Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado has been tipped by his manager Jose Mourinho to be a big hit in the Barclays Premier League, and Mourinho claims he is willing to wait until next season.
SEE ALSO:
Chelsea v Manchester United live streaming & Premier League preview
Manchester City v West Ham United live streaming & Premier League preview
Oscar to Liverpool: Five players Reds could sign instead of Chelsea star, including ‘new Xavi’
The Colombian international joined the Blues in January from Serie A side Fiorentina, in a deal reported to be worth up to £26.8m (via BBC), but has so far struggled to make an impact for the league leaders.
He has started just two league games during his short spell in England, and is yet to get off the mark for the club. Mourinho insists the player will come good next season however, once he gets used to the demands of playing in a different league.
“I just know that it’s different to play in Italy than to play in England, different to play for Fiorentina than for Chelsea,” the Portuguese manager told reporters (via the Metro)
“A player needs time and I am ready to give him time. The club is ready to give him time. It looks like he’s ready to have this time.”
“Next season, I believe he can have a fantastic season,” he added.
Cuadrado was one of the shining lights at last summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil, and scored once as Colombia reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, before being knocked out the by the home nation.
When foreign players come over to England, it tends to take up to six months for them to adjust to the league. Therefore, any verdict on the 26-year-old should wait until next season.
He will most likely start on the bench when the Blues welcome the visit of in-form Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, as they bid to go ten points clear at the top of the table.