Liverpool is just hours away from signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus. If Rio Ferdinand's old comments are anything to go by, he wholeheartedly endorses the transfer .
Chiesa will become the first arrival of the Arne Slot era (albeit not the first signing, with a deal already in place for Giorgi Mamardashvili to come to Anfield next summer). It's not a move that anyone was really expecting, but Richard Hughes is coming good on his promise of being opportunistic.
A contract impasse at Juventus meant that Liverpool has been able to sign Chiesa for just $13m (£10m/€12m). That would have been hard to believe just three short years ago, when the whole continent — Ferdinand included — was singing his praises.
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As he took Euro 2021 by storm, Chiesa was the cause of plenty of transfer regret. Big clubs were left wondering how they had allowed Juventus to steal a march, agreeing an initial two-year loan with Fiorentina which would turn into a permanent arrangement.
For Chiesa looked the real deal at that tournament. Selected in the Best XI, he was part of an Italy side that ultimately won the whole competition, scoring in the semi-final against Spain en route to victory over England .
Former Manchester United star Ferdinand was among those to be wowed. Speaking to the Metro , he claimed that many English sides would be wishing they had got their hands on Chiesa:
"He’s a huge player, and he’s been linked with a few clubs in England. I’m sure they’re thinking, "why didn’t we get him?"" Ferdinand said in September 2021.
"He’s just a fantastic footballer. The intensity with which he plays with [sic], we saw in the Euros, he was the main goal threat for the Italians who went on to win the tournament.
"It’s his pace, his drive. He’s the one who is the threat, he’s potent, he wants to run in behind. He’s that modern day striker who can play anywhere across the front line and he’s as comfortable out wide as he is through the middle. He unnerves defenders with that pace, he’s so direct."
Liverpool no doubt plans to make use of that versatility across the front line, with Chiesa a helpful depth option. His primary role, however, may well be to provide some cover to Mohamed Salah , with no other natural right-wingers in the squad.
As for his pace and drive, Liverpool will be gambling that it is still fully intact after a cruciate injury in January 2022. Last year was Chiesa's first full campaign back — he looks a different player, albeit still an effective one.
At such a bargain price, it's certainly a gamble worth taking. The world was at Chiesa's feet when Ferdinand made his remarks, and at just 26, his best years could even still be ahead of him.
Liverpool.com says: If Liverpool is getting even a shadow of the Chiesa who dominated the latter stages of Euro 2021, it has secured a brilliant deal. But it might be more realistic to expect a slightly different profile of player.
Statistics show that his pace is still intact, and he still has the tendency to take on players, albeit not with an especially impressive success rate. But Chiesa has become a hugely creative presence, which might actually make him more useful to Liverpool as a stand-in for Salah when required.
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