legend Roberto Di Matteo has shared his thoughts on new signings Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling.
’s side signed the pair this summer from Napoli and respectively as they strengthen ahead of the new Premier League season.
Centre-back Koulibaly arrived for £33m and built up a reputation as one of the best defenders in Italy during his eight-year spell in Serie A.
The 31-year-old Senegal international knocked up 317 appearances for Napoli across all competitions and has won the Coppa Italia and Africa Cup of Nations.
England international Sterling, meanwhile, landed at Stamford Bridge for £45m following a trophy-laden spell at City in which he won four Premier League titles, five League Cups and the FA Cup.
Sterling, 27, scored 131 goals across 339 games for Pep Guardiola’s side following his switch from Liverpool in 2015.
Former Italy midfielder Di Matteo, who won the Champions League and FA Cup as a Chelsea manager as well as two FA Cups and a League Cup as a Blues player, feels both players will provide a massive boost to the club.
‘Koulibaly and Sterling and two brilliant signings,’ Di Matteo told the . ‘I think they are going to be very important for the team this season and for the future.
‘They are two players that I think will have a big impact at the club and I’m sure the coach knows them very well in terms of how he wants to utilise them.
‘I think they will bring a lot of quality into the side, for sure. Being Italian, I watch Italian football quite a lot and with regards to Koulibaly, he’s a top-class player.
‘He will bring physicality, which you need in the Premier League, but also he has a lot of technical ability and he has the tactical awareness that you see from the Italian sides in Serie A.
‘So I think he be a good signing for Chelsea. I feel like we are getting a top player who is in the prime of his career, so I can only see positive things.’
Chelsea’s Premier League season starts on August 6 when they travel to face Everton.
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