Why Chelsea sending Davide Zappacosta on loan is ideal for all parties
According to Football.london, Chelsea are looking to clear out some of their fringe players after a summer of huge spending. Among those names is Davide Zappacosta.
A loan deal to Genoa is on the cards, with the wing-back returning to Chelsea after a loan spell from Roma. He is behind the likes of Reece James, who has made the right-back spot his own.
Profile
Davide Zappacosta started his youth career in his hometown club AS Sora in 1998. After 10 years, he moved to Isola Liri and broke into the first team in 2009.
In 2011, he was recruited by Atalanta but was immediately sent on loan to Avellino. He spent a season on loan there, before the move was made permanent next season. Two more seasons followed at the club before Atalanta came back for him.
He went on to play 30 games for Atalanta in the 2014-15 season, scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist (source – Transfermarkt). A transfer to Torino was agreed in 2015. In two seasons, he played 58 games for the club, scoring 2 goals and assisting 5.
Chelsea acquired his services in 2017 but the £70,000-a-week star was a sporadic player for the Blues in the two years he was at the club. However, he did play a huge part in Chelsea’s victorious Europa League campaign in 2019.
Post that season, he went on loan to Roma but his season was hampered due to two very serious and long-term injuries. Since then, he has returned to Chelsea. He has featured a total of 13 times for Italy as well.
Why a loan move is ideal for everyone
Zappacosta was always seen as a backup option at right-back or right-wingback. He has featured mostly in cup competitions. While he hasn’t done much wrong, he clearly looks out of his depth at Chelsea.
Reece James’ emergence last season means that the right-back spot is now sorted for the time being. Cesar Azpilicueta can be an able deputy to him until someone new comes in.
Verdict
Zappacosta is a decent player who can play as a wing-back or as an orthodox full-back. However, he functions better as a wing-back. That is something Chelsea can’t provide given how they use a back-four that uses a traditional right-back.
At this point, a loan deal looks like a good temporary solution for both club and player. In a year’s time, they can evaluate the situation and make a decision.
