Federico Chiesa has mostly been used as a substitute during his two seasons at the club under Arne Slot
Federico Chiesa has had a tough time since joining Liverpool(Image: Andrew Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool star Federico Chiesa suffered another setback during the latest international break. The Italy international was selected by boss Gennaro Gattuso for the Azzurri’s World Cup qualifying play-offs despite his limited game time at club level, but was forced to withdraw from the squad.
Chiesa has endured a difficult period since his move to Liverpool from Juventus in 2024, and this represented yet another disappointment. Speculation continues to surround the Euro 2020 winner’s club future, though fans may need to wait to see what’s next for him.
“Not everyone is the same,” Gattuso said when discussing Chiesa. “Footballers’ minds aren’t all alike. When I hear he has problems, that he’s hesitant, I have to make a decision.
“We decided together because he didn’t feel up to it; he went back home, and I accepted it. I can try to convince him for a while, but I always think that in life, beyond a match, relationships matter.
“I don’t have great medical expertise, but if someone isn’t feeling well, you shouldn’t insist. If he ends up damaging his knee, how is that player supposed to look at me? So I don’t push it – I make him understand. When someone feels they’re not at 100%, it’s right that they go home.”
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Chiesa was one of only two signings made by Arne Slot during his first Liverpool transfer window and the sole arrival to join straight away, with Giorgi Mamardashvili not due at Anfield until 2025. The ex-Juventus winger became a Premier League champion at the first time of asking but saw limited action on the pitch.
The 28-year-old barely featured in the league during his debut Reds campaign, making just six appearances as fitness issues derailed his campaign. He’s already surpassed that tally this term, though the bulk of his appearances in all competitions – including 22 of his 23 league run-outs – have been as a substitute and some questions have followed.
Champions League frustration
Slot originally omitted Chiesa from his squad for this season’s Champions League, before the Italian was handed a reprieve when defender Giovanni Leoni sustained a long-term injury. “Of course, that is one of the most difficult things you have to do as a manager,” Slot said in September when discussing his conversations with the forward around the initial decision.
Arne Slot has spoken about his conversations with Chiesa(Image: Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
“For a player not to play, it is not always easy to tell them but not to be in the squad is always more difficult. I just explained to him why we made this choice. Of course, he wasn’t happy with that.
“I think he understood my arguments – that is not to say he agreed with them. He didn’t tell me, by the way, that he didn’t agree with them! But he gave me the answer you want to hear from a player, that he will be there to help the team in the cups and in the league.
“That’s one thing to say but I think he also showed this because he wasn’t selected but he worked really hard these days to be ready for the upcoming days. That is even more important than what a player tells you.”
What’s next for Chiesa
Chiesa remains a cult figure amongst Liverpool supporters, despite not entirely justifying his £12.5million price tag, though the fee could yet prove a bargain, and he continues to feature in Italy’s plans. While his chances have been scarce, he has made a strong impression on the occasions he has been called upon and – to his credit – hasn’t sought an escape route despite reported interest from Serie A.
“I play for a top club. This is maybe one of the top three in the world. It’s Liverpool – of course they are going to buy top players; of course, the competition is high,” he said after setting up both goals in a Carabao Cup win against Southampton in September.
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“If I don’t want competition, I go to another team. But I want the competition, I want to play here and I think, at the end of the day, competition helps you to become a better player.”
Chiesa put pen to paper on a four-year contract upon joining Liverpool, meaning the club are under no pressure to sell. Even if they were to entertain the notion of offloading the forward, they needn’t fret about losing out on a hefty fee by allowing his contract to wind down, simply because he was never likely to fetch a substantial sum.
With Mohamed Salah set to depart Anfield at the end of the season, further changes to the forward line could well be on the cards. Chiesa’s circumstances remain somewhat unusual, though clearer indications may surface once the dust settles on the current campaign.
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