Having been left out of Juventus’ matchday squad for their first game of the 2024/25 season, Federico Chiesa looks almost certain to leave the club before the transfer window shuts next week.
Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with the wide forward, although 90min understands that Premier League interest is not advanced. Barcelona currently look like a more likely destination, but time and financial limitations may count against them. Chiesa does also have interest from within Serie A, with AC Milan and Inter considering an approach – Inter would need to make room first.
But why are Juve so keen to sell a player who was once one of their star men?
1. Injuries
To put it bluntly, Chiesa hasn’t looked like the player who dazzled at Euro 2020 since he suffered a cruciate ligament tear back in January 2022.
The explosiveness he relied upon to carve defences open has been hindered significantly by the injury, with 11 goal contributions during the 2023/24 Serie A season in stark contrast to his pre-injury numbers of 16.
As well as affecting his performances, the injury has also had led to a number of spells on the sidelines with niggling subsequent issues.
Since his return from the ACL tear, Chiesa has missed 27 games for club and country thanks to 12 separate ailments – most of which revolved around the knee he had surgically repaired.
2. Thiago Motta’s assessment
Word on the street (in the Italian media), is that new Juventus manager doesn’t view Chiesa as a valuable asset to the first-team due to the fact that he isn’t a tactical fit for his progressive 4-2-3-1 possession-based system.
Considering the Italy international hasn’t played a minute of football or even been in a single matchday squad since Motta took over, those reports do scan.
3. Contract talks
With his contract at Juve set to run out next summer, talks over a new deal simply haven’t progressed as intended.
According to reports, the contract that Chiesa asked for is something that the club won’t or simply can’t afford to dish out for a player who is not viewed as a vital member of the squad
4. Financial restrictions
Having earned themselves a European ban for their financial situation last season, outbid by West Ham this summer to sign Jean-Clair Todibo, and having lost roughly €700m in the last six years, it’s fair to say that Juve aren’t exactly flush with cash.
So with that in mind, it makes sense that the club are trying to get rid of some of their top earners this summer in order to fund rebuild for Motta.
Adrien Rabiot, Wojciech Szczesny and Alex Sandro have all left this summer, cutting the wage bill dramatically, and Chiesa looks set to follow suit.
source:90min.com
