Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa was absent from the Reds’ training session on Monday ahead of their Champions League clash with Galatasaray.
The Premier League champions are back in action on Tuesday evening, making the trip to Turkey in what promises to be a cauldron of noise.
This is one of Liverpool’s biggest games of the season so far, with Champions League glory potentially the one thing that could keep Arne Slot in his job beyond May.
That remains to be seen – a top-five finish in the league could be enough – but in a year where no team in Europe looks outstanding, the Reds have to believe they can go all the way in the competition.
Writing on X, reliable journalist Paul Gorst confirmed that there was no sign of Chiesa in Liverpool’s training on Monday, suggesting he is a doubt for the game:
“No Federico Chiesa at LFC’sopen training session this morning. Arne Slot to deliver an update on that in Istanbul tonight. Trey Nyoni not involved after 45 minutes for the U21s on Sunday.”
Will Federico Chiesa leave Liverpool this summer?
Chiesa’s Liverpool career has been a curious one, with the Italian a hugely popular figure with the supporters, despite struggling bad for minutes.
The 28-year-old is a big talent on his day, so much so that Alessandro Pierini had this to say about him during some stellar performances for Italy at Euro 202o:
“He’s world-class. He has all the ability and desire of a great player,” Pierini said. “If he improves then he’ll be even better than his father [Enrico]. I have loads of respect for Enrico and all he has done to help Federico come on as a player until now.”
This version of Chiesa isn’t the same player, however, and him missing the Galatasaray game through injury would rather sum up his time at Anfield to date.
It would be a big surprise if he remained at Liverpool beyond the end of the season, given his lack of playing time, and if he does depart, supporters will remember him as a player who always gave his all, but ultimately did very little.