Federico Chiesa has opened the door to staying and playing a bigger role at Liverpool following the sacking of Arne Slot.
Slot made it clear fairly early on that he did not see Chiesa as a starter, regularly handing him mere minutes at the end of meaningful games.
Had the Dutchman stayed, it would have been fairly certain that Chiesa would have left the Reds this summer. However, the hiring of Andoni Iraola has changed the picture, and the Italian has now admitted that he is open to staying with Liverpool depending on how his conversations with the new head coach play out.
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Chiesa to speak with Iraola before deciding future
There is a decent argument that Chiesa should stay at Liverpool as they aim to add more strength in depth to their forward line.
With Mohamed Salah leaving, Hugo Ekitike injured and new question marks over Cody Gakpo’s future, Liverpool do not need to be robbing themselves of more options.
Iraola’s arrival gives Chiesa a clean slate in that regard, and although he has admitted to Gazzetto dello Sport that he obviously wants to play more football, the 28-year-old has also suggested that he is open to seeing if that arrives at Liverpool under Iraola.
“I repeat: I want to play. If I don’t find consistency in the Premier League, I’ll have to look elsewhere,” he said.
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“I barely played in my first year at Liverpool, and in the last one, very little. I’ll go on a training camp in the US, then I’ll talk to the club and the new coach, Iraola, and we’ll see. I’m open to anything, the important thing is to play.
“I’m not so presumptuous to say I have to be a starter,” Chiesa added. “I’m ready to fight for a place, anywhere.”
With predictable links back to Serie A, the Italy international also commented on Como, who have been reported as being a possible destination for him.
“Fabregas is a top coach,” he said. “No one would ever have imagined Como like this, a beautiful team to watch too.”
Though many fans feels Chiesa is not up to scratch and not good enough for Liverpool, it would be nice to see him given redemption by Iraola and at least handed a chance to show himself more regularly. Who knows, the more front-footed, chaotic style of play may just suit him.
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