Cesare Casadei

Cesare Casadei

Casadei with Italy U20 at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Cesare Casadei [1]
Date of birth	(2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 (age 21) [1]
Place of birth	Ravenna, Italy [2]
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) [1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Chelsea
Number	31
Youth career
	Cervia
0000–2018	Cesena
2018–2022	Inter Milan
2022–2023	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	Chelsea	5	(0)
2023	→ Reading (loan)	15	(1)
2023–2024	→ Leicester City (loan)	22	(2)
International career‡
2018–2019	Italy U16	9	(2)
2019	Italy U17	1	(1)
2021	Italy U18	1	(1)
2021–2022	Italy U19	12	(3)
2022–2023	Italy U20	9	(8)
2022–	Italy U21	9	(1)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Italy FIFA U-20 World Cup Runner-up 2023 Argentina
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024

Cesare Casadei (born 10 January 2003) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea.

Casadei played youth football with various Italian clubs before moving from Inter Milan to Chelsea in 2022. He was sent on loan in January 2023 and made his professional debut with Reading. He then joined Leicester City on loan for the 2023–24 season. He was then recalled from his loan in January 2024.

Representing Italy in various youth levels, Casadei received the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot awards in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Club career

Early life and Inter Milan

Born in Ravenna and growing up in Milano Marittima, Casadei started playing football at Cervia before joining Cesena. ^{[3] [4] [5]} In 2018, after the latter club faced bankruptcy, the midfielder moved to Inter Milan, where he quickly came through the youth ranks, winning a national Under-17 championship in 2019 and rising to the Under-19 squad while still being only seventeen. ^[4]

In October 2021, he was included in The Guardian's yearly "Next Generation" list, featuring the highest-rated prospects born in 2003. ^{[6] [7]} The following year, Casadei received his first call-ups to Inter's first team, while contributing to the U19's final victory in the Campionato Primavera 1. ^{[4] [8] [9]}

Chelsea

Chelsea U21

On 19 August 2022, it was announced that Chelsea had agreed a deal with Inter Milan for the signing of Cesare Casadei on a six-year contract. ^[10] His transfer fee was reported to be in the range of €15 million, plus €5 million in add-ons. ^{[9] [10]}

Casadei was included in the U21 team, and on 31 August he made his debut against Sutton United, losing 1–0 in an EFL Trophy match and being red carded. ^[11] Four days later, he made his Premier League 2 debut, when he scored a 48th-minute goal to make it 2–0 against Everton U21. ^[12] On 22 November, he scored a long-distance goal in a 4–2 away win against Peterborough United senior team in the EFL Trophy second round; ^[13] the goal was also voted as Chelsea's Goal of the Month. ^[14] He scored a total of five goals in 13 appearances for Chelsea U21 in all competitions. ^[14]

Loan to Reading

On 30 January 2023, Casadei was loaned to Championship side Reading until the end of the season. ^{[14] [15] [16]} He went on to make his full professional debut on 4 February, starting in a 2–2 league draw against Watford. ^[17] He scored his first goal for the club on 15 March 2023 in a 2–1 loss at Blackburn Rovers. ^[18] He was a part of the team that eventually suffered relegation to EFL League One at the end of the 2022–23 campaign. ^[19]

Loan to Leicester City

On 15 August 2023, Casadei was loaned to EFL Championship side Leicester City until the end of the season. ^{[20] [21]} He made his debut for the club four days later, coming on as a substitute for Wilfred Ndidi in the 62nd minute of a league game against Cardiff City, in which he went on to score the 2–1 winning goal in the 92nd minute of the match. ^{[22] [23]}

Return to Chelsea

On 19 January 2024, Casadei was recalled by Chelsea from his loan at Leicester. ^{[24] [25]} He made his senior debut for the Blues coming on as a late substitute for Cole Palmer in the side's 1–4 away defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on 31 January 2024. ^[26]

International career

Casadei has represented Italy at almost all youth international levels, from the Under-16 to the Under-21 national team. ^{[2] [27]}

In June 2022, he was included in the squad that took part in the UEFA Under-19 European Championship in Slovakia, ^[28] where Italy reached the semi-finals before getting knocked out by eventual champions England.

On 19 November 2022, he made his debut for the Italy U21 squad in a friendly match lost 4–2 against Germany.

In December 2022, he was involved in a training camp led by the Italian senior national team's manager, Roberto Mancini, and aimed to the most promising national talents. ^[29]

In May 2023, he was included in the Italian squad that took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. ^[30] Having helped Italy reach the final, as the Azzurrini eventually lost to Uruguay, ^{[31] [32]} he received both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot awards, as the most valuable player and the top scorer of the tournament with 7 goals. ^{[33] [34]}

Style of play

Rated as one of the most promising Italian talents of his generation, Casadei has been described as a well-rounded and modern midfielder, who excels both physically and technically. ^{[3] [6] [7]} He can play on both sides in a three, four or five-man midfield trio, but also as an attacking midfielder, or even in the holding role. ^{[4] [10]} Mainly a right-footed player, he's still quite comfortable with his weaker foot, too. ^[7]

Despite being quite tall and having a slight valgus deformity, he is elegant and comfortable on the ball, whether he is passing it or carrying it, while also showing good pace and coordination. ^{[6] [7]} Thanks to his off-the-ball movement, his intelligence and his abilities in shooting and heading, he can get himself many chances to score. ^{[27] [6] [7]} Defensively, he tends to dive into tackles and press the opponents, while also using his body to duel with opponents or defend the ball. ^[7]

Due to his skills, he has been compared to Massimo Ambrosini and Sergej Milinković-Savić, ^[10] although he cited Nicolò Barella, Marcelo Brozović, Radja Nainggolan, Javier Zanetti and Federico Valverde as sources of inspiration. ^{[10] [35]}

Personal life

Cesare's brother, Ettore, is also a footballer: as of 2023, he plays for the soccer team of the Florida Institute of Technology. ^{[8] [36]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 April 2024 ^[37]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chelsea U21	2022–23	—			—		—		4 [lower-alpha 1]	1	4	1
	Total	—			—		—		4	1	4	1
Chelsea	2022–23	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2023–24	Premier League	5	0	0	0	0	0	—		5	0
	Total		5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Reading (loan)	2022–23	Championship	15	1	0	0	0	0	—		15	1
Leicester City (loan)	2023–24	Championship	22	2	1	1	2	0	—		25	3
Career total			42	3	1	1	2	0	4	1	49	5

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Inter Milan U17

• Campionato Nazionale Under-17 Serie A e B: 2019 ^[4]

Inter Milan U19

• Campionato Primavera 1: 2021–22 ^[8]

Italy U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2023 ^{[31] [32]}

Individual

• FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2023 ^{[33] [34]}
• FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2023 ^{[33] [34]}

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Italy (ITA)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 14. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
2. Cesare Casadei at WorldFootball.net
3. "Cesare Casadei, un diamante per il centrocampo dell'Inter" [Cesare Casadei, a diamond for Inter midfield]. lagiovaneitalia.net (in Italian). 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
4. Gioacchino Graziuso, Luca (24 December 2021). "Cesare Casadei, il gioiellino dell'Inter Primavera: è l'MVP di dicembre" [Cesare Casadei, the jewel of Inter Primavera: it is the MVP of December]. numero-diez.com (in Italian). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
5. Horncastle, James. "Meet Chelsea's new signing Cesare Casadei, the free-scoring 19-year-old No 8 from Inter". The Athletic. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
6. Christenson, Marcus (7 October 2021). "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
7. Sessa, Francesco (25 April 2022). "Casadei, il baby Milinkovic dell'Inter: "Intenso come Barella e sereno come Brozo, così imparo dai campioni"" [Casadei, Inter's baby Milinkovic: "Intense like Barella and serene like Brozo, that's how I learn from the champions"]. gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 May 2022.(subscription required)
8. "#CESENASTORIES, 18^ puntata. Ettore Casadei, gol&piadina" [#CESENASTORIES, 18th episode. Ettore Casadei, goals & piadina]. sport.sky.it (in Italian). 18 November 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
9. "Chelsea sign Italy youth international Cesare Casadei from Inter Milan". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
10. "Casadei joins Chelsea". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
11. "Esordio da dimenticare per Casadei con il Chelsea U21: espulsione per l'ex Inter | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
12. "Esordio 'shock' alle spalle: primo goal col Chelsea U21 per Casadei | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
13. "Peterborough United v Chelsea U21". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
14. "Casadei joins Reading on loan". chelseafc.com. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
15. "Cesare Casadei completes loan switch to Reading". Reading FC. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
16. "Reading sign midfielder Casadei from Chelsea". BBC Sport. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
17. "Reading come back to earn Watford point". BBC Sport. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
18. "Blackburn 2-1 Reading". BBC. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
19. "Reading relegated to League One after Terriers win". BBC Sport. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
20. "Casadei seals Leicester loan". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
21. "Leicester City Secure Cesare Casadei Loan From Chelsea". Leicester City F.C. 15 August 2023.
22. "Leicester City 2-1 Cardiff City: Debutant Cesare Casadei scores injury-time winner". BBC Sport. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
23. Ferri, Alessandro (19 August 2023). "Il debutto da sogno di Casadei: segna il goal vittoria al 92 e fa impazzire i tifosi del Leicester". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.
24. "Cesare Casadei Recalled By Chelsea". Leicester City. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
25. Donato, Lelio (19 January 2024). "Casadei, Sensi e l'intreccio di mercato tra Inter, Chelsea e Leicester". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2024.
26. "Premier League: Liverpool thrash Chelsea to go five points clear at top - reaction". BBC Sport. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
27. Carzaniga, Dennis (8 September 2021). "Italia Under 19, Casadei protagonista anche in Azzurro: il centrocampista dell'Inter a segno nel 3–0 sull'Olanda" [Italy Under 19, Casadei also protagonist in Azzurro: the Inter midfielder scores 3–0 against the Netherlands]. sprintesport.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
28. "Gli Azzurrini in Slovacchia alla conquista dell'Europa. Ufficializzata la lista dei 20 convocati, non ci sono Gnonto e Scalvini". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 16 June 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
29. "Stage a Coverciano dal 20 al 22 dicembre, convocati due gruppi di calciatori di interesse nazionale". FIGC (in Italian). 15 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
30. "Ufficializzata la lista dei 21 convocati per il Mondiale in Argentina" (in Italian). FIGC. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
31. "Returning Rodriguez snatches Uruguay maiden title". FIFA . 11 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
32. Di Chiaro, Michael (11 June 2023). "Uruguay-Italia Under 20 1-0: Luciano Rodriguez stende gli Azzurrini, sudamericani Campioni del Mondo". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 12 June 2023.
33. "Casadei claims a golden double". FIFA. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
34. "Italia, i premi del Mondiale U20: ci sono anche Casadei e Desplanches". Tuttosport (in Italian). 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
35. Di Chiaro, Michael (26 March 2023). "Casadei sul calcio inglese: "E' differente, si gioca con grande intensità"". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 26 March 2023.
36. "Ettore Casadei". floridatechsports.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
37. Cesare Casadei at Soccerway

External links

• Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website
• Cesare Casadei – UEFA competition record ( archive )