Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has insisted that Juan Cuadrado will not be sold in the summer after joining the club in the January transfer window, but admits his confidence needs rebuilding.
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The winger was the Blues’ blockbuster signing of the winter window in a £23.3m deal from Serie A outfit Fiorentina – becoming the club’s first Colombian transfer in their history. However, despite the fanfare surrounding his name, he has struggled to break into Jose Mourinho’s first-team.
Recent reports from the Express claimed that Cuadrado was close to sealing a loan deal with Inter Milan after making just four Premier League starts since his transfer to west London.
Mourinho, however, has quashed claims that the 27-year-old wouldn’t be a part of his Blues squad next season and will give the forward more time to adjust to life in England’s top flight.
The former Real Madrid boss said, “Cuadrado is not going anywhere this summer,” as quoted by the Daily Star.
“People don’t know Cuadrado yet, I have seen him many times when we were both in Italy, me at Inter and him at Udinese,” the Portuguese manager added.
“Because of that I have a lot of hopes for him for next season.
“I hope in the Copa America he can regain his self-esteem, his ego and that he has that joy of playing.”
There was speculation that Cuadrado could make way for international team-mate Radamel Falcao, with Mourinho having confirmed his interest in the former Manchester United striker [London Evening Standard]. However, the Colombian duo could line up together at the home of the Premier League champions next season.