Another Liverpool injury surprise sees star ruled out | OneFootball

Another injury for Liverpool as a star is surprisingly ruled out. The player just isn't fit enough.

Federico Chiesa has been sent home from Italy duty after fitness tests discovered he’s not in shape to compete. Liverpool have agreed with the decision.

Chiesa was called up by his country for the first time in a while, giving him a chance of making their World Cup squad - should they qualify. But it appears that dream is dead.

The forward will not take part in Italy’s fixtures, instead working towards getting his fitness back with Liverpool. And that’s something of a surprise.

After all, Chiesa reported for duty with Italy as everyone believed he was fit enough to do so. Instead, he’s unable to play and no one is quite sure how long it’ll take for him to get back.

Some questions need answering then. It’s a particularly strange situation.

Federico Chiesa: Situation Summary

Injury and International Withdrawal

Chiesa was recalled to the Italy squad for their critical World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday. However, after arriving at the Federal Technical Centre, medical staff deemed him unfit to feature. In agreement with Liverpool, he has returned to the AXA Training Centre for rehabilitation. This setback marks a disappointing turn for the 28-year-old, who was seeking his first international appearance in two years.

Season Statistics and Role

Under Arne Slot, Chiesa has remained a fringe player, struggling to find consistent minutes behind Mohamed Salah and other high-profile attackers. In the 2025/26 campaign, he has made 31 appearances—though only five were starts—totalling 660 minutes. He has recorded 3 goals and 3 assists across all competitions.

Transfer Rumours

Reports from TEAMtalk and Football Transfers suggest Liverpool may be ready to "cash in" on Chiesa this summer for a fee of approximately £16 million. Juventus is reportedly interested in bringing him back to Turin, potentially on an initial loan deal.