Since arriving at Anfield in the summer, Italian forward Federico Chiesa has had a challenging time settling into life on Merseyside.
His start at Liverpool has been disrupted by injury, as he sustained a muscle strain in late September.
Chiesa spent 72 days recovering, missing 15 games for his new club.
After this setback, Chiesa returned from injury in time for Liverpool’s victory over Southampton, which secured their place in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
However, he was absent from the squad this past weekend, but that was purely du to Arne Slot’s selection decisions.
Italy’s national team coach Luciano Spalletti believes Chiesa’s move to England could prove beneficial for the forward.
Speaking to Sky News Italia, as reported by Football Italia, Spalletti said, “He overcomes obstacles, creates opportunities for the team, and offers chances on his own.”
He added, “Indeed, he needs more game time.”
When asked whether Chiesa’s move to Liverpool was a mistake, Spalletti responded, “I don’t know, but perhaps now he understands things that will help him develop further.
I believe he can help any team in any league, but he needs to make strides in terms of physicality.”
He continued, “We struggled against France’s intensity and physicality, so this is an area where we need to improve.”
Chiesa has not been available to the Azzurri since the UEFA Euro 2024 due to injury.
He will be hoping to stay fit and contribute to Arne Slot’s side as they compete across all competitions this season.
Maintaining fitness over the next couple of months and featuring regularly for Liverpool will put Federico Chiesa back in contention for the national team when the next international break arrives in March 2025, positioning him to become a key player in the Azzurri’s World Cup qualifiers.
