Federico Chiesa arrived at Liverpool with high hopes. He was a Euro 2020 champion, a standout winger in Serie A with Fiorentina and Juventus.
Liverpool paid roughly £10 million up front (rising to £12.5 million) to bring him in last August on a four‑year deal.
You can almost hear the dream, him playing on the right wing at Anfield, adding his creativity, goals, flair. But that never translated.
Chiesa’s first season with the Reds was fraught with injuries and limited opportunity. He only played a few times, about 14 games in total and just 104 minutes in the Premier League. He hardly played at all.
A Difficult Start in England
When he joined, Chiesa admitted to feeling like he’d been “catapulted to another planet.”
He landed at Liverpool on 26 August with zero pre‑season, no settled integration, and a level of pace and intensity that felt overwhelming. Slot himself later confirmed Chiesa had only managed 41 minutes of Premier League football all season.
The numbers were stark. One Premier League start. A couple of cameo substitute appearances. A first team goal only in the FA Cup in January, and a second goal as a substitute in the EFL Cup final at Wembley in March, not nearly the impact he or the club expected.
His father later said in March: “Federico is doing great at Liverpool, he is in a top club that is first in the league. No regrets about Juventus.” Despite the harsh reality, they tried positivity.
In fan forums, Chiesa supporters voiced frustration. One Reddit user wrote:
“He really deserves it after what he did against Newcastle.”
But those moments were too few and didn't last long.
Luis Díaz Shows Liverpool Are Starting Over
On July 27, 2025, Liverpool agreed to sell Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich for roughly €75 million (£65.5 million). A move that jolted the squad’s offensive balance.
Díaz had played a major part in last season’s success, 17 goals, eight assists, and the second‑most used forward behind Salah.
Liverpool have already spent big too, over £190 million from sales since June 2024 and they’ve brought in Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, among others.
All seems part of a rebuild under Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes. But for Chiesa, the departure of Díaz created space, but not necessarily minutes for him. Liverpool are targeting Alexander Isak or other forwards, which suggests they’re looking beyond Chiesa for their revived forward line.
Slot Isn’t Fully Sure – This Could Be His Lifeline
Mid‑May 2025, Slot was asked whether Chiesa had a future at Liverpool. His answer was cautious. Yes, if he proved his fitness in pre‑season.
He explained he hadn’t had the chance to give him meaningful play because others like Van Dijk and Konaté were always available and unbeaten sides rarely rotate.
It sounded nice, but not real. Performing well in pre-season doesn’t mean he’s part of the first team plans. Slot made clear the door wasn’t completely shut.
Gattuso’s message: Get more minutes or lose your place with Italy
On June 19, Gennaro Gattuso officially took charge of Italy’s national team. One of his first conversations was with Chiesa. His message was blunt:
“He needs to play consistently. I told him, this applies to everyone.”
Chiesa hasn’t featured for Italy since Euro 2024. With the World Cup less than a year away, Gattuso’s squad will prioritize players seeing regular club action. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a requirement.
Feeling Frustrated and Missing Home
Behind every quote and report lies emotion. Chiesa came to Liverpool dreaming of greatness. After Euro 2020 he’d earned the move to Juventus and made his mark and then came Anfield.
He said straight up: “I arrived and found myself catapulted to another planet. Liverpool were going three times as fast”
He also spoke with professionalism:
“I will sit with the club, my agent and my family soon and choose the best solution. I wouldn’t mind staying.”
His father, Enrico, added a patient tone: keep training, keep faith. “Until he was 15 he didn’t play often. I told him to not give up, to be ready when his time came”
So beneath all stats and transfer talk, there’s a man still trying to find himself, eager to play, stuck in a system moving too fast. And summer is coming.
Serie A’s Clubs Want Him Back
By April, Italy media and transfer outlets had surrounded Chiesa with links back to Serie A.
Milan were mentioned as targeting him on loan or a modest fee of €25‑30 million. Napoli were also interested, Roma came into the picture by late July.
Reports pointed to a Milan attempt structured as a loan, with Liverpool covering part of his salary since Chiesa’s wages (around €7.5 m net) are beyond Milan’s budget. Fabrizio Romano confirmed:
“Chiesa loves Liverpool but he needs and wants to play regular football, the World Cup is a major aim, there is a concrete possibility he will leave this summer. His desire is to return to Serie A.”
There’s no bitterness here. It’s quiet ambition, regular football, national team relevance, emotional peace.
Where all this leaves Liverpool and Chiesa
Liverpool are rebuilding. Díaz is gone, Núñez might leave, several defenders have moved on, and fresh faces are joining. That forward line is being reworked around Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike, possibly Isak or Fofana.
Slot might keep Chiesa if he impresses in pre‑season but at this point, insiders suggest Liverpool are open to selling or loaning him.
The club’s asking price may be in the €25‑30 million range for a permanent deal, or a loan with part-wages covered by Liverpool as needed. Report suggest chiesa isn't part of Liverpool’s pre‑season tour squad to Asia, a strong sign he’s not in Slot’s short‑term plans.
How Chiesa feels, and what’s really on his mind
When Chiesa and those closest to him sit around the table. His agent, his dad, and Liverpool brass, they’ll talk more than money or clauses.
What they’re really weighing is where does Federico feel he belongs? There’s an emotional side to this that data tables don’t show. He wants to go someplace where he’s visible in every game, not glanced at as a bit-part figure.
He’s thinking about his place in the Italy squad, not just as an option but someone Italy can build around again. The World Cup is near, and Gattuso has made it clear that no game time means no national selection. That’s not something he can gamble with.
Then there’s everyday life. He misses the way people talk during games in Italy and training with them. He hasn’t had enough time to adapt to the club or how things work.
For Chiesa, he’s not doing this to prove anything or get attention. He’s mature enough to put football first and that means playing consistently.
He wants a coach who understands him, a squad that trusts in him, and fans who welcome him back to his country. That deep, emotional pull towards Serie A feels just as important as anything on the contract.
Wanderlustsport Verdict
This isn’t a story about failure. It’s about transition. Chiesa is still only 27. He was a hero for Italy; fans know his potential when fit and motivated.
Liverpool seemed like the next chapter, but plans changed too fast, injuries halted momentum, and Slot’s system took priority over patience.
Now it’s time to start afresh. Serie A feels natural. The coaches understand him. He can play trusted positions, speak freely. He can rebuild confidence and consistency in front of crowds who love him.
Chiesa’s transfer may look like a Liverpool loss but for Federico, it’s more than that, it’s a chance to write the next chapter. One where he plays every week, earns his spot in Italy, and rediscovers football joy.
Liverpool’s season begins without Díaz now and chiesa’s story will be settled soon. All signs point to Italy, where his heart remains.