In January, the first Chiesa goal came in a Liverpool shirt. Then Arne Slot downplayed his performance, no reason to take off for a goal against Accrington in the FA Cup. Especially not when the Italian was received like a star, but spent the next few months getting fit, nurturing injuries, and finding match form again. It was a completely different response from Slot when Chiesa scored in the Premier League opener last weekend. So different that the player who has been linked to the exit since January is once again part of Slot’s plan.
The Italy international has struggled to make an impression at Anfield following his £12.5m move from Juventus in 2024. Injuries and competition for places led Chiesa to consider his options at the end of last season, with a transfer in the pipeline. But Luis Diaz’s move to Bayern Munich has made Chiesa reconsider his future.
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According to transfer journallist Romano, the winger and his agent have communicated to Liverpool that he wants to stay.
It is not only Diaz’s departure that has helped change Chiesa’s opinion. The goal against Bournemouth, after Liverpool had squandered a two-goal lead, felt like a big moment. The timing of his goal impressed Arne Slot.
“As long as he’s here, it’s definitely Liverpool, and I have no reason to believe that anything is going to change. He had trouble getting ready for training last season. Unfortunately for him, he also missed our Asia tour, so he missed quite a few games. When we needed Federico at 2-2, we brought him in and he delivered, and that’s always positive for the future of the club. Chiesa has also insisted that he is happy at Anfield,” Slot said after the Bournemouth game, according to Goal.
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In other words, plan changed.
