A NEW Federico Chiesa is coming for Liverpool | OneFootball

Chiesa declines Italy call

He has played a lot more than expected in the early stages of the season - scoring two Premier League goals.

The wide man is a legitimate first-team option and will grow in importance once Mo Salah heads off for AFCON duties with Egypt.

And we can expect even more from Chiesa in the months upcoming. Because he’s got an added incentive to reach his potential - a FIFA World Cup qualification playoff in March.

Chiesa hasn’t been with the Azzurri for their qualification matches this season - with Gennaro Gattuso’s side finishing runners-up to Norway.

Chiesa has got a World Cup playoff incentive

He declined several call-ups – preferring to remain on Merseyside to work on his fitness. But there remains a chance he answers Italy’s call in spring - and puts himself in a position to play in his national team’s first World Cup proper since 2014.

"The doors are open,” Gattuso said following Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Norway.

"It's important, but he needs to feel comfortable: we'll see what happens later."

Tuttosport is optimistic that not only will Chiesa ask to get back into the national team reckoning but he will be once again a continental force to be reckoned with.

“In these first months of the season, Chiesa is finding his feet at Liverpool and his performances are improving,” a report reads.

“The Azzurri hope is to find him in full shape for the possible training camp in February and above all for the playoffs: where a Chiesa in the conditions of the 2021 European Championship could make the difference.”

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Chiesa set to SOAR

Chiesa was regarded as one of the emerging talents of the European game when Italy won the Euros in 2021.

Having suffered a debilitating ACL injury shortly after, he lost some of his explosiveness and is still waiting to regain the heights he hit at Wembley that summer.

But the prospect of a World Cup playoff - and a winter at Anfield without Salah in his way - could truly propel Chiesa back to the top. Under contract until 2028 - these next few months could truly see Chiesa’s Liverpool career launched.