As Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, continue to set the pace in the current season, one of their summer signings, the Italian winger Federico Chiesa, is already facing a dilemma. The 24-year-old, who joined the Reds on a permanent deal from Juventus, is reportedly attracting interest from three Serie A clubs – AC Milan, Inter Milan, and AS Roma.
This is a significant development, given that Chiesa only just arrived at Anfield in the summer and is still adjusting to the demands of the Premier League. His struggles have been evident on the pitch, and it remains to be seen how he will respond to the competition from other suitors.
Chiesa’s situation serves as a cautionary tale about the need for patience in football. Even top clubs like Liverpool can’t turn players around overnight. In the case of Chiesa, his struggles are understandable, given that he didn’t have a pre-season to acclimatize with his new team.
There have been precedents at Liverpool, where some of the club’s most successful players took time to adjust to the intense demands of the Premier League. Fabinho, Andrew Robertson, and Ryan Gravenberch are all examples of players who didn’t instantaneously slot into the team. Instead, they had to work hard to adapt before making a significant impact.
The same ethos should be applied to Chiesa, who, in his 2021 form, was a Brazilian winger, capable of terrorizing defenses with his pace and direct running. There was even praise from Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, who described him as “fantastic.”
The question is, can Liverpool forgo the temptation to cash in on Chiesa and instead give him the time he needs to regain his form? Or will the pressure of competition from other clubs persuade the Reds to consider selling a player who could yet prove to be a valuable asset in the long run? Ultimately, only time will tell how this drama unfolds.
