Federico Chiesa has been limited to a bit-part role at Liverpool much to the frustration of Italy manager Luciano Spalletti
Federico Chiesa is expected to be left out of the upcoming Italy squad for the March international break after Luciano Spalletti branded the forward’s time in England as a ‘failure’. Liverpool signed the 27-year-old from Juventus last summer for an initial £10m as he became Arne Slot’s first signing since taking over At Anfield.
However, the Italy international has played a bit-part role since joining the Reds, having missed most of the first of the season through injury.
While he made his comeback in the League Cup against Southampton back in December, he has been limited to just 10 appearances for Liverpool so far this season
Starting only three times, he has returned one goal and an assist, while he has not been used by Slot since a disappointing performance in the Reds’ shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle earlier this month.
At times left out of a Liverpool matchday squad altogether when the majority of Slot’s players are fit and available for selection, Chiesa’s future with the Reds remains uncertain.
And Spalleti has now conceded that the forward has ‘failed in England’ as he admitted Chiesa has not played enough football to warrant an Italy recall.
“Unfortunately, he has failed in England,” he told Italian media. “He has only played 25 minutes. He must be more consistent. He needs more defensive phase.”
Spaletti has previously urged Chiesa to return to Serie A towards the end of the January transfer window, though the player’s agent had already insisted he would stay put at Liverpool at the start of the month.
Yes, I would be very much in favour of having Chiesa under our watch in terms of the level of our football, to reintegrate him,” he told Vivo Azzurro TV. Those who have this quality of looking you in the eye and breaking the line in front of them to get to the next one… there aren’t many of them.
“We’re hoping that Chiesa can play with more continuity and that we can see him train and play regularly.”
