Hungary national team head coach Marco Rossi has openly suggested that Attila Szalai’s touted move to Chelsea is a “done deal”. The Blues have been linked constantly with the Fenerbahce defender in recent weeks.
In a media event, Rossi seemed to give away Szalai’s impending transfer to Chelsea, who have been linked with the centre-back in recent weeks, given their own issues with expiring contracts and prolonged negotiations with personnel in that area of the pitch.
Rossi, when asked about a Hungarian player who could fit well in Serie A, suggested Szalai before quickly stating that the youngster’s move to Stamford Bridge is a done deal.
“It’s hard to name just one player, but right now I see very well Attila Szalai, who plays for Fenerbahce, but I think he is joining Chelsea,”
“Clearly, he has been followed by important clubs in Spain, but apparently, his move to Chelsea is a done deal. [He] would be a great player also for Italian football.”
Rossi told the media.
23-year-old Szalai has had a journeyman career so far, but he seemed to have found his place in the heart of the defense at Fenerbahce. The youngster played for the youth teams of Vasas and Rapid Wien before turning professional with the latter.
He left Austria in 2017 to return to his native Hungary and sign for Mezokovesd, for whom he played until 2019 before leaving for Apollon Limassol. Fenerbahce spotted his talents in the Cypriot First Division, as well as the continental competitions, and brought him to Turkey in January 2021, where he has been ever since.
Naturally left-footed, Szalai could end up replacing Antonio Rudiger for Chelsea on the left-side of their three-at-the-back formation. Rudiger’s contract with the Blues is approaching an end and, so far, efforts to get him to sign an extension have been in vain. The German could leave Chelsea at the end of the summer, prompting the club to look for replacements.
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