Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella has confirmed the departure of winger Juan Cuadrado to Chelsea.
The deal is set to see Blues misfit Mohamed Salah join the Serie A club on loan for the rest of this season.
Montella said: “Cuadrado is an ultimate professional. He has always give his best. I’m sad but happy for him. Chelsea a top club.”
“Honestly, it was something that had to be done.
“As a Coach I’m disappointed, but on a pragmatic level the fee is so high that it’s worth it.
“It’s nobody’s fault, we must absolutely not be distracted, and offer excuses, we must be supremely focused.
“We’re getting a player in Salah who will have to adapt to our football, this is a League that’s different from the Swiss and the English.
“Cuadrado can also play in more positions than he can. He’ll serve as an understudy to Joaquin in a 3-5-2, unless we change the formation, but it would be a shame to do that.
“He’s a player who offers guarantees in attack as part of a 4-3-3, or as a second striker. He’s a top player though.
“I hope we can find a place for him in our five-man midfield, but it’s hard to be on the same level as Cuadrado.”
Cuadrado joined the Viola in 2012 from fellow Italians Udinese, and has 20 goals in 85 Serie A games.
Egyptian Salah has not featured much at Stamford Bridge this season, and the change of scenery may be the boost he needs after a rough season so far.
Steve Osborne @Pack3rNa7ion