The last time Liverpool signed a player from Juventus, a Champions League cameo was as good as it got.
Arthur Melo’s one and only appearance for the Merseyside giants came off the bench in a 4-1 defeat to Napoli two years ago almost to the day.
Federico Chiesa, desperate to avoid the same fate that befell the injury-cursed Arthur at Anfield, needed only one minute on the pitch at San Siro to equal his fellow Juventus import’s tally of appearances in Liverpool colours.
Reds boss Arne Slot has been wary of throwing Chiesa in at the deep end.
Introduced in the dying embers of a statement 3-1 win at old adversaries AC Milan in their Champions League opener, this was the £10 million summer signing’s first appearance for Liverpool.
The first of many, Chiesa will be hoping.
Federico Chiesa makes Liverpool debut in Champions League
Now, there are obviously a few reasons why Liverpool got Chiesa – an ‘incredible talent’, to quote his former Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa – so cheap.
It is only three years, after all, since he was firing Italy to European Championship glory while earning potential Ballon D’Or shouts. A spate of injury issues – including an ACL tear – took a sledgehammer to Chiesa’s reputation as well as his once sky-high price-tag.
But while Juventus have been applauded by some for promoting the likes of Samuel Mbangula and Kenan Yildiz in Chiesa’s place, former Bianconeri boss Fabio Capello cannot shake the feeling that this will be a decision they come to regret.
“It was a very big decision to send him away because, at times, he was the only one who made the difference,” Capello tells Sky Italia.
“I agree with the coach,” adds legendaey midfielder Zvonimir Boban, who won the Champions League back in 1994 for AC Milan under the one-time England, Russia and Real Madrid boss.
“I don’t know what happened. (Chiesa) was the only champion they had.
“Juventus’s was an excellent market. A lot was spent on Teun Koopmeiners, who is an excellent player. But he is not a champion. There are many excellent players but there is no champion. If they want to make a further leap in quality they must focus on these players.”
Yildiz has frequently been likened to Juve icon Alessandro Del Piero.
And, wearing the Italian’s old number ten shirt, he drifted infield and curled home a picture-perfect finish reminiscent of Del Piero in his pomp during Juventus 3-1 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night.
Boban, however, feels that a side who have drawn blanks in each of their last two Serie A matches would have been better off retaining Chiesa and keeping young Yildiz in reserve.
“Yildiz? At the moment if I have to choose, I would let Chiesa play,” Boban adds. “(Yildiz) hasn’t yet reached his concreteness.”
Arne Slot is planning to hand Italy star a bigger role
Chiesa, like for Italy at Euro 2024, could be used initially in an impact sub role by Slot.
With Luis Diaz in fine form and Mo Salah back to his dazzling best against AC Milan – Rossoneri boss Paulo Fonseca singled him out following Liverpool’s latest comeback Milan victory – Chiesa will certainly have to be patient as he awaits a first start for his new employers.
“I bring in quality players and I believe he is,” Slot told Redmen TV on Youtube in his pre-San Siro press conference.
“(Chiesa) combines quality with work-rate and the culture of this club, this team. He brings that with combinations of several positions. He is with the team.
“I don’t think you should expect him to start (against Milan) but he will make some minutes if we needed him. He’s had some training time. (It is) too early to play 90 mins.
“But hopefully (Chiesa will get) some minutes in the upcoming fixtures.”
Chiesa will be hoping to make his Premier League bow at home to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
