Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa has admitted that he could return to Juventus one day — but for now, he appears to be fully focused on preparing for pre-season with the Reds.
Chiesa only started one Premier League game in his debut season under Arne Slot — against Brighton, when the league title was already wrapped up — and played under 500 minutes in all competitions. Arriving on a cut-price deal from Serie A, though, he has been happy on Merseyside up to this point, even with links about a return to Italy persisting.
"I work every day with a Liverpool program to be at my best for the tests on July 8," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. That, of course, is the date that Slot and his players will reconvene after the summer break to prepare for the 2025/26 campaign.
By that point, Liverpool could have further bolstered its attacking ranks by bringing in Florian Wirtz. New signing Jeremie Frimpong can also play on the right wing, where Mohamed Salah is the nailed-on number one in that role.
While Chiesa is likely to find it tough to get minutes consistently as a result, a full pre-season will help. Last year, he missed the whole of the summer before coming in late and struggling to get up to speed.
In the longer term, though, the Italian hasn't ruled out going back to Turin. Napoli and AC Milan have also been linked with moves for him in recent months, while Atletico Madrid was the latest club claimed to be interested in a move for him earlier this week.
Federico Chiesa celebrates (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
"Juventus? I still love the club. Returning there one day? Why not..." Chiesa said. "Thiago Motta didn’t want me there. He told me that I was not part of his plans, and should go find a team."
Motta was fired in March and Igor Tudor took over until the end of the season. Juventus is now searching for a permanent appointment with Fulham's Marco Silva said to be under consideration.
In the same interview, Chiesa also expressed his desire to return to playing for the Italian national team having been left out of Luciano Spaletti's latest roster. He isn't involved for qualifiers against Norway and Moldova.
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The World Cup will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico next season — and Chiesa therefore needs to get regular action in the meantime to earn a spot.
"What a thrill to win the Premier League," he said. "My future? I miss the blue shirt, I dream of playing in the World Cup."
Speaking at the Liverpool title parade last Monday, Chiesa had said: "I'm so proud of the team. When I first came here they immediately made me feel like part of the team, they supported me during the tough time I had this year.
"I have to thank them all. I am their teammate. I'm one of the boys. Even in training, I tried to give my best."
Liverpool.com says: Chiesa should probably move on this summer if he wants regular minutes before the World Cup. Getting them at Anfield will be very tricky on the evidence so far, and it would have to be an incredible pre-season to change the pecking order that much.