The 27-year-old has endured a tough start to life at Chelsea and has consequently been rumoured to be heading for the exit door just 6 months after joining the blues.
In an exclusive interview with DirecTV Sport, head-quartered in California, José Mourinho was quick to downplay talks regarding the sale of Juan Cuadrado. Signed for £27 million to replace the departing André Schürrle, the Colombian winger has failed to replicate the form that saw him rise to prominence in his time with Fiorentina.
Such form has seen many question the judgement of Mourinho after Mohamed Salah, who was partly exchanged to Fiorentina on loan, has excelled in Serie A. However speaking to DirecTV Sports, Mourinho assured fans that there is much more to come from Cuadrado:
“Cuadrado is not going anywhere this summer. 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. Because of that I have a lot of hopes for him for next season.”
Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Once more, Mourinho pointed to this year’s Copa América, hosted in Chile, as a potential springboard for an upsurge in the Colombian’s form for next season as Chelsea aim to retain their Premier League crown:
“I hope in the Copa América he can regain his self-esteem, his ego and that he has that joy of playing.”
Colombia’s first match in the Copa sees them line up against Venezuela on Sunday 14th June before a repeat of the World Cup quarter final against Brazil on Wednesday 17th June. Their final group game pits them against Peru on Sunday 21st June.
