Liverpool is on the verge of signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus, with the deal expected to be finalized soon. Rio Ferdinand’s previous comments suggest he strongly supports this transfer.
Chiesa will mark the beginning of the Arne Slot era at Liverpool (although Giorgi Mamardashvili’s transfer, already set for next summer, will be the first official signing). This move comes as a surprise, but Richard Hughes is proving true to his promise of being opportunistic.
A contract dispute at Juventus allowed Liverpool to acquire Chiesa for just $13 million (£10 million/€12 million), a figure that would have seemed improbable a few years ago when he was widely praised, including by Ferdinand.
During Euro 2021, Chiesa made a significant impact, leading to regret among major clubs that missed out on him while Juventus secured an initial two-year loan from Fiorentina, which eventually became permanent.
Chiesa’s performance in the tournament earned him a spot in the Best XI, and he played a crucial role in Italy’s victory, scoring in the semi-final against Spain and helping secure the win over England.
Ferdinand, a former Manchester United player, was impressed and noted in September 2021 that many English teams might regret not signing Chiesa:
“He’s a massive talent and has been linked with several English clubs. They’re probably thinking, ‘why didn’t we sign him?’” Ferdinand remarked.
“He’s an exceptional footballer. His intensity during the Euros was notable, and he was a key goal threat for Italy. His pace and drive make him a modern striker who can play anywhere along the front line and is just as effective out wide as centrally. His speed and directness unsettle defenders.”
Liverpool will likely leverage Chiesa’s versatility, with a primary role possibly being to back up Mohamed Salah, as there are no other natural right-wingers in the squad.
Liverpool will be hoping Chiesa’s pace and drive remain after his cruciate ligament injury in January 2022. Last season was his first full year back, and while he appears to be a different player, he remains effective.
Given the bargain price, it’s a risk worth taking. Chiesa was highly regarded when Ferdinand made his comments, and at just 26, his best years could still be ahead.
Liverpool.com says: If Liverpool is getting even a shadow of the Chiesa who dominated the latter stages of Euro 2021, it has secured a brilliant deal. But it might be more realistic to expect a slightly different profile of player.
Statistics show that his pace is still intact, and he still has the tendency to take on players, albeit not with an especially impressive success rate. But Chiesa has become a hugely creative presence, which might actually make him more useful to Liverpool as a stand-in for Salah when required.
