Talented youngster Cesare Casadei discussed his start to life with Chelsea and why he decided to leave Inter for the Premier League club.
The 19-year-old Italian midfielder made a name for himself in the Nerazzurri Primavera squad and seemed set to break into the first team this year, until Chelsea swooped in back in August and signed the teenager for €15m. Casadei was sent to the Under-21 squad in West London and has impressed since his arrival, scoring three goals in five Premier League 2 games.
Speaking in a press conference, Casadei first discussed his initial thoughts on Chelsea a few months after his arrival.
“When the offer arrived and I had the opportunity to make this new experience, I honestly took it with open arms.
“It wasn’t an easy choice to make and it wasn’t easy at the beginning either because I didn’t know the language well and I’m still learning it, but I felt I had to do it to get out of my comfort zone. For the moment I’m having fun and it’s a super positive experience.
“I’ve grown as a person, because I had to start fending for myself, and technically, because there’s more intensity here, the speed of the game is greater. Like the training sessions, there is much less dry work and almost everything is done with the ball, starting with the warm-up.”
He touched on which Chelsea player he’s paying a lot of attention to.
“I look at those in my position and here there are many from whom I can learn, now I’ll say Loftus-Cheek, for his physicality in which in a certain sense I see myself, obviously knowing that there is much to work on.”
Finally, Casadei spoke about his current living situation in West London and how it feels to join the Italy U-21 squad.
“I was born in Ravenna but have always lived in Cervia. Now I live 20 minutes away from the Blues’ sports centre and I study English 3-4 times a week with a teacher.
“I’ve improved in this too compared to the beginning but I have to learn it well, beyond football, because it’s a language you need to know nowadays.
“To be called by the national team is always a great pride and a great emotion, I will always try to give my best with this shirt.
“I like to play in many roles, I don’t have a specific one and even now at Chelsea they are employing me in various positions in midfield. There as here in the Azzurri, I make myself available where I can serve.”
During his time with the Inter Primavera squad, Casadei scored 28 goals and provided eight assists in 75 games.