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Chelsea FC have officially announced the signing of former AC Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia on a free transfer. The Blues have been searching for a viable backup to current number one Asmir Begovic since the injury to Thibaut Courtois.
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The Belgian international has been missing in action since the last international break after he suffered an injury in training after returning to the club in tip-top shape. The injury was initially reported as a minor sprain but further scans revealed some ligament damage and after surgery Courtois has been rehabbing his way to full fitness.
As for Begovic, the keeper has been a revelation and is proving to be a key signing for the Blues who brought him in for a fee believed to be around £8 million. Unfortunately he has been the starter during Chelsea FC’s current poor run of form but the defeats can not be blamed on the Bosnia international.
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Begovic has been one of the few Chelsea players who has not disappointed this season and he has saved the Blues from even further embarrassment with a string of world-class saves. If Begovic were to suffer an injury or be suspended then Chelsea would be left with the inexperienced youngster Jamal Blackman who has not been tested at a high level.
Amelia is a former Italy international who spent the majority of his career with Livorno after coming up through the AS Roma academy. He helped Livorno earn promotion twice from Serie C1 to Serie A and also played for Palermo, Genoa, and Milan. He was a backup to Christian Abbiati at Milan and to the legendary Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian team but was part of the squad the won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The Blues were rumored to be interested in Manchester United keeper Victor Valdes but the club would have had to wait until the January transfer window to bring in the Spain international. There was also no guarantee that United would be willing to strengthen a direct rival even if he was unhappy at the club.
The best case scenario here for the club is that the 33-year-old Amelia never sees the field, or does so in a League Cup match or in a meaningless Champions League group stage match. At this point he is nothing more than an emergency player but he has a tremendous amount of experience and will not be overawed by a big stage despite never playing in the Premier League.