Juan Cuadrado to Juventus: Chelsea forward on verge of loan deal, will it smooth Paul Pogba transfer?
Cuadrado set to end nightmare spell at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Juan Cuadrado is on the verge of leaving Stamford Bridge for Juventus in a deal Chelsea will hope smooths the path for Paul Pogba to move in the opposite direction.
Colombia international Cuadrado was undergoing a medical in Turin ahead of an anticipated season-long loan, with reports there is an option for the move to become permanent.
He moved to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina in February, but made a limited impact as the Blues won the Capital One Cup and Premier League title.
"We all know that Juve is a great club, among the best teams in Europe. They have everything to win the Scudetto (Serie A)," Cuadrado said on the club's official website.
"I hope I can give Juventus my best, 100 per cent. I didn't expect to receive such a warm welcome from the fans in Italy but they have always welcomed me with open arms and that makes me very happy.
"The fans' support will give me further motivation to do well."
There is no suggestion that Cuadrado's move to Juventus will form part of negotiations for Pogba, but providing the Italian champions with a ready-made replacement should they agree to sell their star player won't do any harm.
It's understood Chelsea are ready to pay £70m to secure the services of Pogba.
Cuadrado was one of Colombia's star players at last year's World Cup but failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge since moving from Fiorentina for an initial £23.3m.
He signed a four-and-a-half year contract at Chelsea but it seems the club are already willing to allow him to play elsewhere after four Premier League starts.
Cuadrado is excited at the prospect of playing for Juve, who won the Italian double - Serie A and Coppa Italia - in the 2014/15 campaign and finished runners-up to Barcelona in the Champions League.
He is eager to win another league title.
"The league has only started and we hope we can defend the title," he added.
"I want to prepare well for every game and then the coach will decide. I just have to work hard and play my game."
Juve, coached by Massimiliano Allegri, began their Serie A title defence with a 1-0 defeat at home to Udinese on Sunday and take on last season's runners-up Roma at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend.
Chelsea's Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, who moved to Fiorentina on loan as part of the Cuadrado deal, is now on loan at Roma.
Additional reporting by PA
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