Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella claims Juan Cuadrado will join Chelsea, but that his sale this winter was inevitable, admitting his club could not turn down the offer made for the Colombian.
The Blues have reportedly activated a 35-million-euro release clause in Cuadrado's contract with a combination of an up-front fee, further bonus payments and Mohamed Salah on loan.
Although the move has yet to be rubber-stamped by either club, Montella was already considering Cuadrado an ex-Fiorentina player at his Friday news conference.
"It was a negotiation which had to be done," Montella said. "From my point of view it's disappointing, but the club did the right thing.
"A top player has left us, but I still see similar characteristics in Salah. I don't think [selling Cuadrado] means we have taken a step backwards. [Cuadrado] is a professional and he always wants to play, and I'm pleased because he's joining a top club."
Montella added: "Naturally, we need to understand how long he (Salah) will need to adapt to our football as it's different from the English and Swiss leagues. From a defensive standpoint, Cuadrado guarantees us a lot more than Salah.
"Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived with a smile and given everything to Fiorentina. I am convinced that if he could have played tomorrow he would have."
Fiorentina had done well to hold onto Cuadrado for as long as they did with the 26-year-old's stock on the rise ever since he shone at last summer's World Cup. However, it is hardly surprising to see one of Serie A's best players leaving Italy.
"This is football," Montella said. "As things stand today, other leagues have more resources than we have. We've got to work on trying to improve our appeal."