Federico Chiesa currently finds himself on the periphery at Liverpool under new manager Arne Slot. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Italian football has a pressing need for one of its key stars, Chiesa, to return to his home country and consistently feature in matches.
Why Italy Seeks Chiesa`s Return from Liverpool
Chiesa`s exclusion from Liverpool`s pre-season tour to Asia, despite recently finding the net in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Stoke City, underscores his current situation. This predicament raises concerns for Chiesa`s prospects during the 2025-26 season, particularly given he accumulated only 466 minutes across all competitions last term. The former Juventus and Fiorentina forward played a maximum of 135 minutes in any single competition Liverpool participated in last season.
Considering Chiesa has not been part of the Italy national team squad since EURO 2024, prior to his move to Liverpool, a transfer away from Anfield appears to be the most viable path for the 27-year-old to reclaim his spot in the Azzurri lineup. Italy`s head coach, Gennaro Gattuso, reaffirmed this stance during his inaugural press conference in June: “I conveyed to Chiesa that he needs to settle and play regularly. This principle applies to everyone.”
When in peak form, Chiesa is an exceptionally valuable asset to the Italian national team, primarily due to the current dearth of quality depth in the attacking positions he typically occupies, whether as a winger or a secondary striker. While Italy boasts robust competition for starting roles in midfield, with players like Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella, Samuele Ricci, Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Rovella, and Cesare Casadei vying for places, and a similar depth at centre-back featuring Alessandro Bastoni, Alessandro Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori, and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, complemented by numerous wing-back options like Federico Dimarco, Destiny Udogie, Andrea Cambiaso, and Raoul Bellanova, the forward department presents a contrasting picture.
The attacking areas are where Italy currently lacks a significant pool of quality options. This makes a fully fit and consistently performing Chiesa an indispensable prospect for the national team. Fortunately, several Serie A clubs have reportedly shown interest in facilitating Chiesa`s return to the Italian top flight. Recent reports suggest Napoli, still seeking new wingers despite the recent arrival of Noa Lang, and Atalanta, who may require a replacement if Ademola Lookman moves to Inter, are among the interested parties.
