Federico Chiesa was once expected to become one of Italy’s finest-ever forwards. His performances in the Euros 2020 which helped his nation win the trophy will forever be etched in Gli Azzurri folklore.
As was the case with many big Italian talents back then, Juventus snapped him up and he had a great start to his career in Turin. However, an unfortunate ACL injury destroyed Chiesa’s progress and he has never been the same since.
Ever since the injury, it looks like Chiesa has lost his confidence to take on his man. Once regarded by Italian legend Chiellini as ‘unstoppable in one-against-one’ situations, the 26-year-old has looked a pale shadow of his former self.
Juventus, who are moving to a new project under manager Thiago Motta have placed Chiesa on the transfer list this summer for a meagre €25m fee. With his contract expiring in less than 12 months, this is the Old Lady’s last chance to cash in on him. Chiesa currently earns €213,654-a-week in Turin, which is quite a significant weight on their books.
Since then, Premier League clubs have expressed interest in signing the Italian winger with Tottenham Hotspur leading Newcastle United in the race for Chiesa. The player himself is said to be keen on a move abroad.
However, a move is yet to materialize for the talented winger and he continues to be a Juventus player. When quizzed about his future, Thiago Motta provided a very cryptic response in line with the club’s intentions to sell him, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano
“For now he’s Juventus player, then we will see…”
The ex-Bologna manager’s response is as cryptic as a response can get. The tone suggests that the 26-year-old doesn’t feature in Motta’s plans and it’s best for all parties if an exit is sorted out this summer.
Clubs like Tottenham are likely to see the potential upsides of this transfer. If Chiesa can rediscover his pre-injury form and consistency, €25m will be an absolute steal for a player of his quality.
Ange Postecoglou could work on Chiesa and bring him back to the levels once anticipated from him. It seems to be a confidence issue. Let’s wait and see if a move can be sorted out this summer, hopefully to the N17.
