The 21-year-old has had to be patient since moving to England, with a muscular injury interrupting his introduction to the Premier League. However, after returning to action, Palestra believes the club have managed his recovery carefully and is now feeling ready to make a greater contribution.
Speaking to Rai Sport from Italy's training camp at Coverciano, the Chelsea defender expressed his gratitude to the coaching staff and his team-mates for the way they helped him return gradually.
“Everything has been positive, despite the fact that I got injured and had to recover. Now I have started playing, I am well and I feel good,” Palestra said.
“I have to thank the coach and my team-mates. I am fortunate because, when I returned, they managed me well, bringing me back gradually and calmly. Now I feel good.”
Palestra is not concerned that he has yet to score for Chelsea. He recognises that his immediate responsibility is to establish himself in the team and continue improving rather than measure his progress through goals.
“I don't decide when I score. I can only try to play well and improve as much as possible. It hasn't weighed on me,” he explained.
“I am focused on improving every day and playing. I am fortunate to be alongside very strong players who help me and a brilliant staff. I think it is understandable, because I have arrived in the strongest league and the most important competition in the world. I am happy and want to continue along this path.”
The defender has also been impressed by the standard of football in England, describing the Premier League as the most competitive competition in the world.
“In my opinion, yes, at the moment. I repeat, I think it is the most beautiful league in the world, the most competitive,” he said.
“The intensity in England is extremely high. There is a lot of physicality, but also an enormous amount of quality. I think it is the best league today.”
Palestra also revealed that his pace, now one of his most recognisable qualities, was not always an obvious strength. In fact, he was considered one of the slowest players in his team when he was younger.
“Everything can be trained. Until I was 15 or 16, I was considered the slowest in the team,” he recalled. “Then I think it was mainly physical development, something that happened naturally. This running ability emerged and today it is one of the characteristics of my game.”
His message to young players who might be frustrated by their physical development was simple: patience is important.
“When you are younger, some people develop earlier and others develop later. You shouldn't worry. Stay calm and continue doing what you are doing, because you are doing great and beautiful things in football,” he said.
Palestra also looked back on his previous spell at Cagliari, where he developed a strong connection with the club and its supporters.
“It was a beautiful chapter, because I didn't expect to feel so comfortable there. I genuinely consider it a second home,” he said. “I can't wait to return this year, see my team-mates, the coach and, above all, the supporters, who were really fantastic.”
His return to the Italy squad has also brought back memories of the devastating World Cup play-off defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. Palestra admitted that the disappointment remains deeply painful and may never completely disappear.
“It still hurts a lot and I think it will always remain that way. But I know we have to turn the page. What happened will always be there, but now it is up to us to write new, great chapters in the history of Italian sport,” he said.
Palestra was introduced during that match and was asked whether he had revisited the footage, including the incident that raised the possibility of a red card.
“Yes, because I am used to watching back every match I play. It was tough, but the only thing I can assure you is that we all gave absolutely everything to achieve our objective,” he replied.
He is now looking forward to testing himself against some of the world's leading attacking players, including France's Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
“They are certainly among the strongest players in the world, and that is a motivation for all of us. But we must also be aware of our own abilities and make sure we are ready,” he said.
Palestra also gave a positive first assessment of Roberto Mancini's current Italy group, describing the atmosphere as united and the new coach as someone who has already made a good impression.
“From what I have seen so far, the feelings are positive. I have watched all the matches my team-mates played in the previous camps and I have also seen a good group. We are all united, the coach is good and helps us a lot. So there are only positive feelings,” he added.