Chelsea fans’ opinions of Juan Guillermo Cuadrado are vastly different to those of Fiorentina supporters and Colombians, and that is totally understandable.

The winger moved to Stamford Bridge from the Viola in January and has failed to impress in his 14 appearances to date.

Sadly for him, in the one game where he finally looked a dangerous attacking threat, against Sunderland on the final day of the season, he sustained an injury and had to be substituted just before half-time.

Cuadrado had earned Chelsea the penalty which Diego Costa converted to put Chelsea level against the Black Cats, taken out by a John O’Shea barge in the box.

But thanks to what proved to be a minor leg injury, he had to make way for Loic Remy and didn’t get the chance to complete the game.

The longest he has played in a Chelsea shirt in any given game is the 70 minutes Jose Mourinho gave to him against Everton in February.

He started only four matches, with his other appearances coming as a substitute, and eight of those were for less than 15 minutes.

To say he hasn’t had a fair crack of the whip would be justified. Then again, Mourinho has observed him day-in, day-out in training and had little reason to adjust a winning team.

Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy, and for most of the season, Willian was deployed in the attacking right-wing position that Cuadrado wants to fill.

The Brazilian is a perfect Mourinho player, offering plenty of energy and physicality, defending and attacking in equal measures, despite his advanced position.

That’s something Cuadrado can offer, too, with Barcelona interested last summer in signing him to play in a full-back role, per Sport, but eventually giving up because of the cost.

Willian‘s impressive form and Cuadrado‘s lack of impact when called upon have limited the Colombian’s game time.

Cuadrado seemed totally off the pace in the Premier League, but he showed at the World Cup last summer and over several seasons for Fiorentina that he is a top player.

The winger was in action for Colombia in a friendly against Costa Rica last week and made more impact than he has during his whole time at Chelsea, with a lovely dart into space and dangerous ball across the face of goal, which Radamel Falcao turned home.

Two players that have widely been mocked for poor performances in England last season, combining for a well-worked Colombian goal.

That could happen a lot during Copa America 2015, with Colombia expected to go far.

They have a tough group, pitting them against the team that knocked them out of the World Cup, in Brazil, as well as Venezuela and Peru.

Cuadrado‘s pre-season starts here, and he should have plenty of energy after being sidelined at Chelsea.

Mourinho could use a player like him, if in good form, to offer a distinct attacking threat on Chelsea’s right, which should buy Eden Hazard a bit more space on the left.

The Belgian has been kicked and hacked at all season long, with defenders making him their primary focus to try to stifle the Blues.

If Cuadrado can build up momentum at the Copa America and come flying into Chelsea’s pre-season, already at a high level, he should be given significantly more playing time next season.

By contrast, if he struggles during the tournament, even as a regular starter, Mourinho will consider cutting him loose, with plenty of sides interested in taking him. 

The Metro report that Inter Milan and Roma would be interested in bringing him back to Italy, and doubtless many other teams will put his past six months to one side and try to revive the Viola’s version of Cuadrado.

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