Federico Chiesa has already been praised by Daniel Sturridge, likened to Luis Suarez and even made Gianluigi Buffon think about retirement.
Liverpool have agreed a £10m payment plus £2.5m in add-ons with Juventus for the Italian winger and he’ll be capable to full a transfer to Anfield topic to a profitable medical.
Regardless of there being some qualms about his damage document, Liverpool will really feel they may have pulled off an thrilling switch for a participant who has been on the membership’s radar for a while.
Many within the soccer world will agree.
The Euro 2020 winner has earned reward from the aforementioned Sturridge in addition to Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand. He’s additionally been likened to icons like Gareth Bale and Liverpool hero Suarez previously.
Daniel Sturridge reward for Chiesa
Taking to his X account, former Liverpool striker Sturridge was one of many first among the many ex-professionals to reward the Reds’ transfer for Chiesa describing it as a ‘prime tier’ signing.
Chiesa to Liverpool is a prime tier signing. Actually good 1v1 , tempo , tenacious and might end. Genuinely shocked on the price ticket,. Mike and Jools strike once more lol… pic.twitter.com/cRXmx7F0xn
— Daniel Sturridge (@DanielSturridge) August 28, 2024
He’s not the one former Liverpool participant to have spoken extremely of the Italian previously. Cole, who additionally performed for Chelsea and West Ham, as soon as likened Chiesa to Suarez on BT Sport (now TNT).
“The most important attribute he’s received is he performs with a humility. He’s hustling and bustling like a younger Luis Suarez character, he could make one thing out of nothing.” Cole stated again in 2021.
“Each membership in Europe will need a slice of him when he turn into out there.”
Throughout the identical dialogue, Ferdinand added that he thought different prime groups within the Premier League would have been questioning why they didn’t signal Chiesa on the time.
The pundit stated: “He’s an enormous participant and he’s been linked with a number of golf equipment in England. I’m positive they’re pondering ‘why didn’t we get him?’
“He’s only a implausible footballer. The depth with which he performs with, we noticed within the Euros he was the primary aim risk for the Italians who went on to win the event.
“It’s his tempo, his drive. He’s the one who’s the risk, he’s potent, he needs to run in behind.
“He’s that modern-day striker who can play wherever throughout the entrance line and he’s as snug out broad as he’s by the center. He unnerves defenders with that tempo, he’s so direct.”
Buffon confession and Bale comparisons
Suarez will not be the one participant Chiesa has been in comparison with. Former Fiorentina director Giancarlo Antognoni, likened Chiesa to Bale in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport in 2019.
“The reality is that Chiesa is a European degree participant, not one historically related to Italians,” he stated.
“In Italy, we’ve had broad attackers with differing traits, reminiscent of my pal Bruno Conti or in right now’s sport Lorenzo Insigne.
“Chiesa has dribbling expertise and high quality, but additionally stamina, tempo and energy. He’s like a younger Gareth Bale who drives you loopy and by no means offers in.”
In the meantime, Gianluigi Buffon admitted he thought-about retiring from the sport when he first confronted Chiesa after having been teammates together with his father, Enrico, at Parma.
“Once I confronted him, at first I used to be disoriented,” he informed Eurosport again in 2019.
“It was the primary time I used to be enjoying in opposition to the son of a former pal of mine. I assumed it was time to cease.”
Later, Buffon additionally described Chiesa as a “particular” participant.
“When he arrived at Juve I didn’t assume he was so good. I’m sincere. Within the European Championship he was unbelievable, within the remaining match with England, it was unattainable to cease him,” Buffon stated.
“After a season at Juve with Federico it’s not a shock for me, nevertheless it was not apparent that he would be capable to play at such a excessive degree in a event just like the European Championship.
“Should you do these issues at such a excessive degree, then it means that you’re actually particular.”
If these feedback from such a goalkeeping legned are something to go by, Liverpool might have a very thrilling participant on their palms.
