Why Italy needs Chiesa to leave Liverpool as soon as possible | OneFootball

Federico Chiesa remains out of the first-team picture under Arne Slot at Liverpool, but with the 2026 World Cup taking place at the end of the coming season, Italian football needs one of its biggest stars back on home soil, playing regularly and consistently.

Why Italy wants Chiesa to leave Liverpool

Chiesa was not included in Liverpool’s pre-season tour squad, while the rest of his teammates jetted off for Asia, where they will face Milan in a friendly in Hong Kong on Saturday night. That is despite scoring in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Stoke City over the weekend.

The situation does not bode well for Chiesa heading into the 2025-26 campaign at Liverpool, particularly given that he featured for just 466 minutes across all competitions last term.

Federico Chiesa of Liverpool is seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between PSV Eindhoven and Liverpool FC at PSV Stadion on January 29, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

In fact, the former Juventus and Fiorentina man did not play for more than 135 minutes in any of the four competitions that Liverpool were involved in last season.

Given that Chiesa has not featured in the Italy national team squad since EURO 2024, prior to his Liverpool move, a transfer away from Anfield appears to be the only way that the 27-year-old can force his way back into the Azzurri line-up.

CT Gennaro Gattuso also confirmed this during his first press conference in charge of the Nazionale in June: “I told Chiesa that he needs to find a way to get settled and play consistently. This applies to everyone.”

HAMBURG, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 15: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Knockout Round Play-offs First Leg match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Olympique de Marseille at Volksparkstadion on February 15, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

On his best form, Chiesa is a particularly useful player to the Italy national team given the current lack of quality in depth in the positions where the Liverpool forward tends to play, either on the wing or as a second striker.

There is genuine competition for starting places in midfield with Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella, Samuele Ricci, Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Rovella and Cesare Casadei competing for places. It is a similar situation at centre-back with Alessandros Bastoni and Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, while Federico Dimarco, Destiny Udogie Andrea Cambiaso and Raoul Bellanova ensure there are multiple options at wing-back as well.

However, the forward areas are where Italy are currently lacking in quality options in depth, which is why a fully fit and consistent Chiesa is a valuable prospect for the national team.

GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – JUNE 20: Federico Chiesa of Italy looks on as he warms up prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Spain and Italy at Arena AufSchalke on June 20, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images for FIGC)

Fortunately, there are a number of clubs in Serie A who appear to be interested in offering Chiesa a return to the Italian top flight.

Those most recently include Napoli, who are still on the lookout for new wingers despite the recent arrival of Noa Lang, and Atalanta, who may need to secure a replacement for the Inter-linked Ademola Lookman.