Chiesa mustn’t squander alternative as Leoni damage delivers Faustian cut price at Liverpool

There are few gamers presently in world soccer who’ve had as a lot of a rollercoaster of a profession as Federico Chiesa.

At one level, the Italian winger was dubbed the subsequent massive factor in Italy. Son of former Italy, Fiorentina and Sampdoria (amongst many different golf equipment) striker Enrico Chiesa, Federico adopted in his father’s footsteps, donning the long-lasting purple shirt of the workforce from Florence.

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Nevertheless, after setting Serie A alight with La Viola, a transfer to Juventus and subsequent accidents noticed him fall from grace dramatically. A transfer to Premier League giants Liverpool final season opened the door for a second likelihood however the Italian was largely unused as Arne Slot stormed to home success in his first season by the river Mersey.

At the beginning of this season, Chiesa was excluded from Slot’s squad for this season’s Champions League marketing campaign, in what will need to have felt like an actual blow to the Italian. Quick ahead just a few weeks and the Italian will probably be concerned in Europe’s elite competitors in any case, accessible for choice as early as

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool receives medical remedy to an damage earlier than being substituted off through the Carabao Cup Third Spherical match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on September 23, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Photos)

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Earlier this week, younger centre-back Giovanni Leoni, Chiesa’s compatriot who joined the Reds this summer time from Parma, within the 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton. .

It looks like a Faustian cut price for Italian soccer. An excellent starlet has suffered a extreme setback, and one we hope to see him get better from shortly and absolutely, however the door has opened for a former prospect to indicate his price to his membership, on the most important stage in Europe.

Federico Chiesa – From Viola wonderkid to Juventus outcast

Chiesa first broke onto the scene within the 2016-17 season with Fiorentina, practically ten years after he signed for the Viola as a youth prospect in 2007. The younger Italian was stuffed with power and was a menace on the flank, particularly arising in opposition to Serie A’s sometimes ageing defenders.

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The next three seasons with Fiorentina would see Chiesa enhance year-on-year, with a well-known hat-trick in a within the Coppa Italia quarter-final in January 2019. The winger lethal within the transition and his menace in 1v1 conditions was second-to-none for his age.

Juventus ahead #07 Federico Chiesa seems to be on earlier than the Italian Serie A soccer match between Milan and Juventus at San Siro Stadium, in Milan on October 22, 2023. (Picture by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Picture by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP through Getty Photos)

Due to this fact, it was no shock that the massive golf equipment got here knocking and in 2020, on mortgage with an obligation-to-buy, for a complete package deal of round €50-60 million, relying on bonus targets met. The Italian was becoming a member of a Bianconeri facet recent off the again of their ninth consecutive Scudetto and it appeared to be the proper match.

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A formidable first season in Turin noticed the ahead rating 14 targets in 43 appearances in all competitions and Chiesa was chosen to be part of Italy’s squad for the postponed Euro 2020 in the summertime of 2021. Chiesa was phenomenal on the match, being and serving to the Azzurri carry the trophy. He scored two vital targets within the knock-outs in opposition to Austria and Spain, along with being named Man of the Match in Italy’s last group sport in opposition to Wales.

Italy ahead Federico Chiesa gestures through the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B soccer match between Italy and Albania on the BVB Stadion in Dortmund on June 15, 2024. (Picture by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Picture by FRANCK FIFE/AFP through Getty Photos)

Nevertheless, the next season would current Chiesa along with his greatest problem but. After an honest begin to the marketing campaign, the Italian that will see him miss 10 months of soccer. This was the damage that, in actuality, he has by no means absolutely bounced again from – and one more reason for concern for younger Leoni’s heartbreaking absence.

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Chiesa wouldn’t play once more till November 2022 and regardless of a blended finish to the 2022-23 marketing campaign, Chiesa set a private report of 9 Serie A targets the next season. It appeared doable that the Italian would possibly signal a brand new take care of the Bianconeri however the membership weren’t satisfied post-injury and in August 2024, .

Leoni damage presents second likelihood for Chiesa

Final season, Chiesa performed simply 14 occasions for the Reds in all competitions, a lot of which have been off the bench, scoring simply twice. Numerous rumours circulated in the summertime that he could go away Liverpool after only one season however he stayed in Merseyside. Regardless of the unhappiness of , Chiesa has had a stable begin to the marketing campaign, with a late aim in opposition to Bournemouth within the membership’s opening fixture, his first Premier League aim. Within the midweek victory over Southampton, the Italian assisted each of Liverpool’s targets.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Federico Chiesa of Liverpool through the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James’ Park on August 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Picture by George Wooden/Getty Photos)

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All indicators level in the direction of a Chiesa stuffed with power as soon as extra, in addition to the will to indicate what he can do. It’s unfair to counsel he’s completely satisfied to simply money in his paycheque at Liverpool, as his efforts in latest weeks have proven he’s keen to provide 100% for the membership.

While Chiesa changing Leoni is hardly a like-for-like change in personnel, the ahead presents one other weapon within the arsenal of Arne Slot. The Dutchman enjoys utilising high-energy, high-press wingers and if the previous Juventus man can keep match and work on his bodily conditioning, he’s the proper choice. .

It feels as if this season is make or break for Federico Chiesa. It received’t be straightforward however the potential for Champions League minutes helps. In his greatest moments with Fiorentina, Juventus and Italy, the ahead confirmed he’s able to delivering in massive video games and that’s precisely what Liverpool want – a clutch participant who can begin or come off the bench and make an actual distinction.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Federico Chiesa of Liverpool scores his workforce’s fourth aim through the Emirates FA Cup Third Spherical match between Liverpool and Accrington Stanley at Anfield on January 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Picture by Jan Kruger/Getty Photos)

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Nevertheless, constant game-time, cautious threat administration and the help of his followers will probably be important if he’s to rediscover extra of the previous Chiesa. If he continues to be left on the fringes at Liverpool, or suffers one other damage setback, the glass will sit half-empty and one can think about he received’t keep in England for much longer.

However with a World Cup arising and Azzurri head coach Gennaro Gattuso placing an emphasis on calling up gamers primarily based on kind, Chiesa can dare to dream this season.

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