Chelsea youngster Cesare Casadei started for Italy’s under-21s side yesterday in a 2-0 victory over Latvia.
The Italians picked up another win on Friday during their qualifying campaign for the UEFA European U21 Championship.
For Cesare Casadei, he got some vital minutes into his legs after a lack of football in the last couple of months.
The 21-year-old spent the first half of the season developing well out on loan at Championship club Leicester City, but he’s rarely played in 2024 since being recalled in January and joining up with Chelsea’s first-team group.
However, this March international break has given their youngster a chance to get some competitive action with his country.
It’s pretty telling that The Athletic reports that Chelsea are already expected to send Casadei out on loan again next season.
Casadei helped his national side earn three points in a qualifying match this week.
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The box-to-box midfielder actually started as a left-winger for Italy’s U21s side on Friday, justifying the decision with a stunning opening goal to break the deadlock. He showed great athleticism to fire in a diving volley inside the penalty box.
Next, Italy face Turkey on Tuesday in another U21 qualifier before players return to their respective clubs.
Chelsea fans agree on Cesare Casadei
A selection of Chelsea supporters on social media were all saying the same thing about Casadei following his international display.
The common theme is that fans on X think the Blues youngster has an instinct for goalscoring and could have a big future netting regularly.
One fan said: “Casadei is too good. Best finisher at Chelsea.”
Another claimed: “Casadei has lots of goals in him. Very direct in his play.”
A third posted: “Casadei is our Scott McTominay. I’m not really sure what he’s good at in midfield but he’s excellent at crashing the box and putting goals in.”
Another wrote: “Casadei is so so close to Bellingham.”
A fifth supporter added: “Casadei is the closest we have had to Lampard when it comes to arriving at the box from midfield and scoring goals especially since the best of Mount was used on the left.”
Another said: “What a finish. I’ve never been too hot on Casadei as a midfielder but I’m starting to see it as a Havertz-type option. Will win aerial duels relentlessly and has got a finish in his locker. Useful tool off the bench.”
Casadei still very raw
If you watch Casadei play for club and country, you can see there’s a lot of improvements still to be made in his game.
We do agree that the physically imposing youngster has a knack for breaking into the penalty area and scoring.
It’s unforgivable that the club interrupted such an insightful loan spell at Leicester, which has only delayed his development. We’re optimistic about his future going forward still, though.
