Palestra out with injury, Chelsea and Mancini keep him in the box

Wednesday 23 September 2026, the young winger Marco Palestra is out with an injury: Chelsea is keeping him on the sidelines and Roberto Mancini's national team has excluded him from the Nations League, leaving fans to wonder when he will be able to return to the pitch.

The transfer from Atalanta to Chelsea

The 2005-born winger, Marco Palestra, moved from Atalanta to Chelsea last summer. The transfer was valued at 60 million euros.

The quadriceps problem

Xabi Alonso reported that the player suffers from a slight quadriceps fatigue. The coach described the current stage as the “final phase of recovery.”

Absence in the opening matches and the defeat against Brentford

Palestra missed the first seven games of the season, five in the Premier League and two in the EFL Cup. He also remained on the bench in the 3‑0 loss to Brentford, Chelsea's final opening match.

Exclusion from the Nations League

Roberto Mancini chose not to include him in the squad list for the Nations League matches. The decision was motivated by the desire to preserve the player during the long break.

The expected return in October

The return to the field is expected from 10 October, when Chelsea will face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. The aim is to allow Palestra to work calmly during the break.

Performances in the summer friendlies

During the summer friendlies, Palestra was almost always in the starting lineup, contributing to the 3‑0 victory over Milan. He impressed especially in the first half of the defeat against Juventus.

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