£80,000-A-Week World Cup Q/Finalist Set For Chelsea Transfer, Deal Agreed In Principle

When Juan Cuadrado left Chelsea for Juventus on a loan basis during the summer, there were varying reports as to whether an option to buy the player at the end of the loan deal was included.

Now as per Football Italia via Gazetta Dello Sport, Juventus have the option to turn the Colombian’s move into a permanent one come the end of the season. Cuadrado joined the Turin giants on a season-long loan deal worth £1.8m, following a six month unsuccessful spell at Stamford Bridge.

The former Fiorentina attacker has made a bright start to his career at Juventus and he featured and performed admirably during the midweek, as the Serie A champions defeat Manchester City at the Etihad in a Champions League group stage tie. Hence, if Cuadrado keeps on performing at this high level through the season the Bianconeri may well decide to pay the release clause of €22m for the Colombian.

Juventus have a gentleman agreement with the Blues, giving them a first option on Cuadrado and if the forward signs for Massimillano Allegri’s men, Chelsea will record a loss of €7.2m.

Cuadrado played a starring role for Colombia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, helping the South American nation to the quarter-finals of the competition and, he continued his impressive form in the first half of the 2014/15 Serie A season before Chelsea signed him in January.

But he failed to make any notable impression for Jose Mourinho’s side as he had neither an assist nor a goal to his name. At the beginning of the season, Cuadrado was handed the No. 11 shirt vacated by Chelsea legend Didier Drogba at the end of last season, with many suggesting the Colombian could be set to stay at Stamford Bridge. But it appeared as though the arrival of Pedro Rodriguez from Barcelona changed things.