One of the key takeaways from Romei’s defence of his former pupil is the emphasis on Chiesa’s attitude. Despite being frozen out by Slot, the player has maintained a dignified silence, refusing to disrupt the dressing room or criticise the manager in the media. Romei pointed to the visible affection from teammates and fans during his rare cameo appearances as proof that the issue lay in the technical area, not with the player himself.
This professionalism will be a key asset for Juventus. They are not signing a disruptive figure, but a hungry professional desperate to prove that his English nightmare was a result of circumstances rather than a decline in ability. Romei’s comments suggest that Chiesa has been a victim of Slot’s rigid system rather than his own shortcomings, a sentiment that will offer hope to Juventus fans that they are re-signing the electric forward of old, rather than a damaged asset.
With the World Cup playoffs looming, Chiesa knows he needs regular minutes to force his way back into the Italy setup. In this timeline, the Azzurri are managed by Gennaro Gattuso, a coach who values grit and determination.
Romei is convinced that a move to Juventus is a direct play to secure his spot in the national team for the crucial qualifiers. He believes that Gattuso is ready to call upon Chiesa, provided he is playing and match-fit.
"Surely," Romei replied when asked if the move was linked to the World Cup playoffs. "Even staying in this situation at Liverpool, Gattuso, in my opinion, would call him. He has already called him, it is he [Chiesa] who didn't want to go, he didn't want to risk it because he wasn't ready, in my opinion. There weren't even too many hopes of qualification, after all."