Federico Chiesa joins Liverpool for £12.5m from Juventus. With just one year left on his Juve contract, the Italy forward becomes Arne Slot’s second signing as Liverpool’s manager. Chiesa, who can play in various attacking positions, has recovered well from a 2022 ACL injury.
At a bargain price of £10m upfront, with an additional £2.5m in add-ons, and with his ability to play various attacking roles, Chiesa meets many of Liverpool’s needs.
Chiesa’s signing has all the signs of a typical Liverpool move, reflecting the data-driven strategy introduced by Michael Edwards, the club’s former sporting director and now FSG’s CEO of football.
Fans of Liverpool’s recruitment strategy will notice familiar traits: the signing offers excellent value with minimal risk but high potential rewards. It involves a player whose situation rather than talent led to being undervalued. This player has yet to reach their full potential but brings extensive top-level experience, has much to prove, and can play multiple positions.
Since Chiesa’s contract was about to expire and the deal was so affordable, Liverpool had no choice but to sign a player of his talent and experience.
Chiesa is a distinctive creator with exceptional skills, but a severe ACL injury has held him back from January 2022. This injury led to recurring problems and lessened the impressive form he showed during Euro 2020.
Federico Chiesa is the perfect catch Liverpool was hunting for this transfer window
The injury put Liverpool’s initial interest in Chiesa on hold. They had been watching him closely since his time at Fiorentina football club and throughout 2021.
Chiesa’s appeal lay in his versatility: he can use both feet, play as a dynamic winger on either side, act as a right or left midfielder, function as a second striker, and even lead the attack, as former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri noted.
The 26-year-old’s quick acceleration, dribbling strength, and eagerness to take on defenders fit perfectly with Liverpool’s style of play.
Even at his best, the club felt Chiesa hadn’t reached his full potential. Despite his injury issues, he played over 3000 minutes last season and showed impressive speed. The belief is that with the right environment, he can truly shine.
Liverpool’s style of play better complements Chiesa’s strengths than Juventus’s. Although his low goal contributions might be a concern, the recruitment team is more interested in his overall performance metrics, such as his ability to create chances, take shots, carry the ball forward, and dribble efficiently.
The potential for an elite performer is already there, just waiting to be realized.
Chiesa struggled under Allegri’s approach
Italian football analyst Mina Rzouki on Sky Sports News:
“Juventus fans are up in arms about him leaving because of the promise he’s shown – he was meant to be the team’s future.
“It hasn’t worked out. It’s tough to blame the player for all of this; he took the club by storm when he arrived.
“He was brilliant to watch under Andrea Pirlo; he was so agile, direct, and mobile, always coming to Juventus’ rescue.
“But he suffered an ACL injury in January 2022, and we’re yet to see him returning to the player we’re used to.
“Unfortunately, it seemed like it wasn’t great for the attackers at Juventus under Max Allegri, who played a more cautious style of football.
“When it came to Thiago Motta taking over, it seemed like this was his opportunity.
“But with one year on his deal, nothing was agreed upon, and there were rumors about him wanting so much money. Juventus wanted to be sustainable, and Motta decided he was not the player who would fit into his plan.”
“He needs a place where he can start – but I’m not sure he’s going to get that at Liverpool either.”
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