Federico Chiesa is set to be omitted from Italy’s squad for the March international fixtures, following Luciano Spalletti’s comments that the forward’s stint in England has been a ‘failure’. Liverpool acquired the 27-year-old from Juventus last summer for an initial $12.7m, marking him as Arne Slot’s inaugural signing at Anfield.
Yet, the Italy international has only had a marginal role at Liverpool, missing a significant portion of the season due to injury. Having made his return in the League Cup against Southampton in December, Chiesa has made just 10 appearances in total this season.
With only three starts, he has notched one goal and an assist but hasn’t featured for Slot’s side since a lackluster display in Liverpool’s surprising FA Cup loss to Plymouth Argyle earlier this month. Occasionally absent from Liverpool’s matchday squad when all players are fit, Chiesa’s future at the club is up in the air.
Spalletti has now acknowledged that Chiesa’s time in England has been unsuccessful, citing insufficient game time as the reason he doesn’t merit a call-up to the national team.
“Unfortunately, he has failed in England,” Spalletti told Italian media. “He has only played 25 minutes. He must be more consistent. He needs more defensive phase.”
Spaletti has made no secret of his desire to see Chiesa back in Serie A, expressing his interest as the January transfer window was drawing to a close. However, Chiesa’s agent had already confirmed the player’s commitment to Liverpool earlier in the month.
Speaking to Vivo Azzurro TV, Spaletti praised Chiesa’s qualities: “Yes, I would be very much in favor of having Chiesa under our watch in terms of the level of our football, to reintegrate him. Those who have this quality of looking you in the eye and breaking the line in front of them to get to the next one… there aren’t many of them.
“We’re hoping that Chiesa can play with more continuity and that we can see him train and play regularly.”