Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
Federico Chiesa insists he would be happy to stay at Liverpool despite a frustrating first season on Merseyside. The Italy international was limited to a bit-part role under Arne Slot as he started only four of his 14 appearances in all competitions.
While he would finish the campaign with a Premier League winners medal, Chiesa made just six appearances in the English top-flight with his only start coming in the penultimate game of the season away at Brighton & Hove Albion when the title was already won.
His future had been the subject of speculation all season as the 27-year-old was continually linked with a return to Serie A.
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Earlier this week, he admitted a return to Italy could be on the cards this summer.
But in a fresh interview, Chiesa has now insisted he would also be happy to stay put at Anfield and has no regrets about his decision to join Liverpool.
“The year is over. But it’s an experience I would do again,” he said. “Soon I will sit down at the table with the club, (my agent) Fali (Ramadani) and my family to find the best solution.
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“I wouldn’t mind staying in Liverpool at all.”
Chiesa joined Liverpool from Juventus last August in an initial £10m deal after being frozen out by the Serie A giants. Left playing catch-up on Merseyside, he would struggle with injury and fitness issues during the first half of the campaign.
The Italian admits he was frustrated with his situation, but refused to criticise Slot for not playing him more as he admitted he put such feelings aside for the good of the team.
"You accept the choices as a professional and you move on,” he said. “In the first few months there were many difficulties.
“If you think that I arrived in Liverpool on August 26 and found myself catapulted to another planet, with other teammates, without having trained with them, but with a trainer, no friendlies, nothing...
“And, if you remember, in the autumn Liverpool were going three times as fast as the others, an incredible intensity.
"At the beginning I felt the frustration of the radical change and of being far behind the group, then there was the injury.
“Up until the match against PSG, Liverpool was ahead of everyone, in the semi-final of Carabao and among the favourites in the Champions League, which PSG won.
“Could I start to discuss the choices of Slot who has always been very respectful towards me, as well as the club?
“(I was up against) The Golden Ball or one of the candidates for the award (in Mohamed Salah).
“(On the left) there were Luis Diaz and (Cody) Gakpo. Slot also made me play as a nine. It was Max (Allegri) who changed my position, suggesting that I move to a second striker to score more, and I scored my goals.
“The desire to play was there, I put it aside, I understood the situation. I put aside every form of individualism.
“This experience was important, formative, you have to believe me. Having studied at an English school I had no problems with the language, I really enjoyed measuring myself against a different culture, different ideas, even football ones.”
While Chiesa has been linked with a Liverpool exit this summer, so too have both Diaz and Gakpo along with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
Consequently, the Reds are expected to make changes in attack and have been tipped to sign a new centre-forward at least.
As a result, while Chiesa could be a player who makes way, he could equally be handed a reprieve if any of his attacking team-mates instead move on with his future still to be determined as a result.
Linked with a return to Italy, Serie A champions Napoli and AC Milan - the latter where he would be reunited with former manager Max Allegri - have both been touted as possible suitors.
But he insists he has not been in contact with any of the reportedly interested sides, though he did pay tribute to Allegri following his return to the San Siro.
“Never, Antonio never,” he dismissed. “I read that they placed me everywhere, but I had no direct contact with anyone.
“Just a congratulatory message from Max at the beginning. He is great, in addition to having changed my position he made me understand the difference between a top club coach and one of an average club.
“Charisma, management, sensitivity and techniques that you don't learn at Coverciano, so I steal his joke.
“Antonio (Conte), (Carlo) Ancelotti, (Luciano) Spalletti are like him. Max is someone who gives you a lot, with Milan he will immediately aim for the Scudetto.”
Chiesa is now eyeing an Italy recall ahead of next summer’s World Cup, declaring, ‘I want that shirt back’, with such an aim perhaps helping shape where his future lies this summer.
He also admits he wanted to stay at Juventus last summer, but had no other choice but to leave after speaking to new manager Thiago Motta.
“Motta was clear with me: I don't need you, find a team,” he recalled to Corriere dello Sport. "I told him I was ready to fight, to put myself to the test because I wanted to stay and show that I was still useful to Juventus.
“But there was nothing I could do. It's okay, it was his choice."
Now a year on and while his first season at Liverpool might have been frustrating, Chiesa’s future is at least back in his own hands as he weighs up his next move - whether to stay put at Anfield or move on - and what is best for his career.