Why has Federico Chiesa failed to live up to expectations at Juventus, and what comes next?
Much excitement and expectation greeted Federico Chiesa at Juventus in the summer of 2020, with seemingly nothing able to halt his development into a star of Serie A and the Italy Men’s National Team.
He had spent an impressive four years with Fiorentina as a direct and dynamic winger, very much securing his status as a player that the wider footballing world was intrigued to see grow.
However, while the 26-year-old was vital to the Azzurri’s 2020 European Championship success and showed flashes of brilliance at club level, inconsistency, false starts and injuries have plagued his time in Turin, and left even his most optimistic supporters questioning what he really offers the Old Lady anymore.
How big of an impact did Chiesa's ACL injury have?
Chiesa’s Juventus debut against newly promoted Crotone in October 2020 reflects his Bianconeri career in microcosm, providing a vital assist to avoid embarrassment and then getting sent off. But the biggest low point during his time in Turin was not of his own doing and was the cruellest of blows for any young footballer to suffer.
In January 2022, the attacker suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear that sidelined him for the rest of that season. The physical and mental challenge of a 10-month recovery affected the pace and agility that made him such a potent weapon, and he has shown few signs of recapturing it since returning.
As disruptive as that injury may have been, though, it helped hide a difficult second season with Juventus. After scoring the winning goal in the Coppa Italia final and netting 14 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions the year before, Chiesa had managed just two goals before his knee gave way.
Misuse by Massimiliano Allegri
Another factor in the Italian international’s progress was the arrival of Massimiliano Allegri ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. His often pragmatic and ultra-conservative style did not exploit a player who thrived in a system favouring quick transitions, high pressing, and attacking freedom. That is how Chiesa was crucial to the Azzurri’s Euro 2020 triumph.
Too often Chiesa found himself isolated in wide areas or forced to attend to defensive duties, rather than utilise his natural attacking instincts, and was also impacted by a lack of a consistent role within the Bianconeri first-team. He was shuffled from an unnatural left wing position to the right, and even as a second striker.
While Chiesa has the attributes to operate as a wide attacker in new Juventus coach Thiago Motta’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, there have been few direct examples of an ability to excel in that role.
What does Chiesa need now?
While Chiesa continues to show fleeting glimpses of his obvious talent, these challenges could well continue to prevent him from reaching the heights expected at Juventus, but at 26, still has plenty of time to turn his fortunes around and perhaps a change in environment would fully unlock his potential. He has been frozen out in Turin so if he is to stay, he looks set for perhaps his worst Juventus campaign yet.
During the summer, there were rumours about a swap deal involving Davide Frattesi of Inter, and the dominance of the Nerazzurri right now could give coach Simone Inzaghi the opportunity to experiment with an even more attacking option than Denzel Dumfries on the right flank. AC Milan presents a less obvious tactical fit, but the club profile he will crave.
Having married long-term girlfriend Lucia Bramani shortly after Euro 2024, there might be a desire to remain on the peninsula, but Chiesa should not dismiss a move abroad if 2023/24 starts slowly, and West Ham United and Barcelona have shown interest.
What the Italian must find, though, is a club and a coach willing to nurture his talent with patience and positivity, if he is to become a modern Serie A great.