'Yes': Italy manager Luciano Spalletti gives honest answer on Federico Chiesa's international future
01/23/2025 05:00 AM
Liverpool look set to stave off the possibility of any first-team players leaving the club before the January transfer deadline.
The Reds have had an exceptionally quiet window, unsurprisingly deciding not to make any new signings for the time being.
While the arrival door at Anfield may soon need some WD40 applying, though, the exit could be a far sight busier.
All sorts of rumours have been swirling around Liverpool in terms of players leaving this winter. Real Marid’s pursuit of Trent Alexander-Arnold has garnered the headlines, but Federico Chiesa has been the subject of plenty of chatter, too.
With Chiesa’s minutes severely limited since his summer signing, rumours have been abound in the Italian press that the 27-year-old could return to his homeland.
And while Chiesa looks set to stay at Liverpool, Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has weighed in on what the future holds for the winger in the national team.
Luciano Spalletti hoping for Federico Chiesa return
Although he has barely played for Liverpool, Chiesa has already become something of a cult hero at Anfield.
The Italy international has been indefatigably happy ever since he joined the Reds in August. Chiesa celebrated enthusiastically with Harvey Elliott on Tuesday to once again underline his committment to the bit.
According to Spalletti, though, Chiesa is still not playing enough to make a return to the national team.
“People like Chiesa, we are there hoping that he can play with more continuity and that he can show us through these possibilities that you have of seeing them train, of seeing these guys play continuously,” the coach told the Vivo Azzurro TV channel via Calciomercato.
Asked whether the door is still open for Liverpool’s No.14 to come back, Spalletti was enthusiastic.
“Yes, I would be very much in favour of having Chiesa under control as far as the level of our football is concerned,” he answered.
“To go and reintegrate him because those who have this quality of looking you in the eye and breaking through the line in front of them to go to the next one, there aren’t many of them.”
Liverpool set to see the best of Chiesa
There has clearly been a bit of agitation in Italy at the fact that Chiesa has not been playing much football at Liverpool.
However, if things work out the way Arne Slot is hoping they will, then the Reds’ handling of the former Fiorentina prospect could be beneficial to everyone.
| Year | Apperances | Goals | Assists |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 19 | 3 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Keeping him back and allowing him to build strength should hopefully ensure that Chiesa avoids injury problems in the future.
Now getting towards match fitness, he can show his very best self and help both Liverpool and the national team.
With a World Cup on the horizon at the end of next season, Chiesa himself will be desperate to get back to representing his country as soon as possible. He does need to play more, but we’ve little doubt Spalletti will be calling him up in no time at all.
