Despite being a defender first and foremost, Palestra is adept with the ball at his feet, and his rangy, 6'1" frame means he can swiftly cover plenty of ground - making him ideal for the wing-back position.
The 21-year-old ranked in the 100th percentile for dribbles attempted in Serie A last term (3.11), completing 1.58 per 90 minutes, and only Juventus' Kenan Yildiz - very much a winger - completed more take-ons than Palestra's 70. Once he finds himself in the right position, he isn't afraid to sling in a cross, either.
He is also two-footed, which aids his versatility and will make him a real asset to Chelsea, who reportedly believe he will be able to cover multiple positions for Alonso, who is likely to deploy some fluid tactical systems.
With a move to Stamford Bridge beckoning, Cagliari sporting director Guido Angelozzi has spoken about the youngster in glowing terms. "I've known him since he was a youth player," he toldTuttomercato."He has everything: physique, strength, speed, dribbling. We're talking about a complete player in every way.
"He's also a great guy who lives for football, has a beautiful family that supports him. Also a good agent. He has everything it takes to have a great career."