Inter Milan face competition from Chelsea for Marco Palestra

Inter Milan face competition from Chelsea for Marco Palestra Chelsea have emerged as serious contenders to sign highly-rated Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra, according to The Athletic . The Blues are threatening to derail Inter Milan’s pursuit of one of Italy’s brightest defensive prospects. Inter have been pushing to reach an agreement with Atalanta for the 21-year-old, entering talks for a deal worth €45 million plus a further €5m in performance-related bonuses. However, negotiations have yet to produce a breakthrough, opening the door for Chelsea and another unnamed Premier League club to enter the race. Palestra enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign on loan at Cagliari, establishing himself as one of Serie A’s standout defenders. His performances earned him the league’s Defender of the Year award after making 37 appearances, scoring once and creating seven big chances from defence. His rapid rise has also been recognised on the international stage. The Italian made his senior debut in March and has already collected two caps, underlining the growing belief that he could become a cornerstone of the Azzurri backline for years to come. Blessed with outstanding athleticism, Palestra has built a reputation for excelling in one-on-one duels while offering relentless energy down the flank. He won 61 percent of his ground duels last season and combines defensive solidity with an attacking threat that has attracted some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Should Chelsea succeed in beating Inter to his signature, Palestra could be an upgrade on Malo Gusto following the Frenchman’s difficult 2025/26 season. Gusto struggled for consistency throughout the campaign, making costly defensive errors and failing to provide the attacking impact expected. He has also been linked with a move to join Enzo Maresca at Manchester City . Palestra’s physicality, defensive intelligence and ability to influence games at both ends of the pitch suggest he would be a far more complete option. If Inter Milan do manage to snap him up, the West Londoners should consider giving youngster Genesis Antwi a chance to prove himself.