Marcela Cuadrado, mother of new signing Juan Cuadrado, says her son simply couldn't turn down an offer from Chelsea.
The Blues signed the ex-Fiorentina man for an initial fee of £23.3m for what will be an important spell in the 26-year-old's career, according to his mother.
"A piece of my heart will stay here [in Firenze]," the player's mother told the Corriere Fiorentino.
"It's thanks to this city and to Fiorentina if Juan became the player he is today.
"The club's directors put faith in him from day one and his Fiorentina spell will always be an important part of his career.
"I'm sorry to leave Firenze, it became our home but there are trains in life who only pass once and Juan could not afford to miss this one [signing for Chelsea].
"I understood that this opportunity could help him grow because Chelsea is an important chapter in his career."
With midfielder Cesc Fabregas set to miss Saturday's away trip to Aston Villa, the Colombia international could make his debut for Chelsea against Paul Lambert's side.
