Federico Chiesa is a fan-favourite at Anfield, but his Liverpool career hasn’t gone as he would have hoped.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Italian was one of the elite attackers in Europe, but injuries and instability have prevented him from rediscovering the form that made him one of Italy’s superstars.
Chiesa looks likely to leave Liverpool this summer, with the lack of minutes becoming an insurmountable obstacle.
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Gianluigi Buffon was recently discussing the World Cup coming up in June, and whether he sees Chiesa as having a part to play.
Gianluigi Buffon not giving up on Federico Chiesa
Despite playing a minimal role for Liverpool this season, Chiesa still has plenty to give on the international stage.
That’s according to one of Italy’s all-time greats.
Buffon appeared on La Tripletta podcast produced by La Gazzetta dello Sport, naming the out-of-favour Liverpool star among the most important players for his country.
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He said: ““Well, without a doubt the first that come to mind are Gigi, Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Barella, Dimarco, Federico (Chiesa), Di Lorenzo, Tonali.
Federico Chiesa playing for Italy
Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images
“We have people who have been involved in the national team for a long time now and who truly have the qualities and the character to express a certain type of leadership and guide their teammates.”
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso told Chiesa he has to play to be considered for a major role in his side, and so far, that hasn’t happened.
But Buffon values the experience the 28-year-old brings, and isn’t ruling him out at all.
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Hopefully, Gattuso is thinking the same way as Buffon, because minutes are going to be very hard to come by as we enter the business end of the season.
With Alexander Isak returning for Liverpool next month, and Rio Ngumoha staking his claim for a bigger role, it’s hard to see fortunes changing for Chiesa.
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Arne Slot doesn’t see him as someone who can start regularly.
The Chiesa story at Anfield is likely to conclude at the end of this season, and the final chapters don’t look like being full of excitement.
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