The former Ballon D’Or winner was certainly taken aback by the deal Liverpool completed late in the summer transfer window.
And he was not the only one.
Signing Federico Chiesa three years after his exhilarating performances at the 2021 European Championships, Liverpool have been accused of coming to the party far too late, when the mini-fridge is empty and the celebrations have long-since wound down.
A player who took the continent by storm back in 2021 arriving in 2024, having struggled to reach those same heights since.
Can Liverpool help Chiesa put a difficult couple of seasons behind him? The former Fiorentina speedster is still only 26, after all. And the initial £10 million fee paid to Juventus by Arne Slot’s side could see Chiesa become the best pound-for-pound signing not just in this window but in recent memory.
That, however, depends on whether Chiesa can rediscover the ‘unbelievable’ form of happier times.
Liverpool sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa
“Juventus had a great transfer window,” Fabio Cannavaro, a former Ballon D’Or winner and Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain, tells Gazzetta dello Sport.
“But I didn’t expect Chiesa to Liverpool.”
He was not the only one, ex-Reds midfielder Danny Murphy another ‘surprised’ by the speed of developments.
After spending weeks on that doomed pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Liverpool’s pursuit of Chiesa went from zero to 60 quicker than Max Verstappen roaring out of the starting grid.
The Merseyside giants are certainly taking a chance on Chiesa after three years of injuries and intermittent form. But the Genova-born forward still has plenty of time on his side, managing ten goals in all competitions last season despite the criticism which often came his way.
Paolo di Canio, the West Ham United legend, is praying that a change of scenery can have the effect of jump-starting Chiesa’s career.
Italy ace could play supersub role under Arne Slot
“I’m happy for Chiesa,” Di Canio tells Sky Italia. “He made us dream during the European Championships. I hoped he could become a champion and a key player for Juventus and Italy.
“Unfortunately, serious injuries and some recurring physical problems did not allow him to make a leap in quality in terms of knowledge or technical or tactical improvements in his game.
“When he came back, he focused on his quality and his individual play. He didn’t fit into Thiago Motta’s plans and his style of play.
“But, in the end, he found a new opportunity at Liverpool.”
Di Canio expects Chiesa to act as a turbo-charged supersub initially, with Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota already plying their trade under Arne Slot.
But Italy looked at their most dangerous during a dismal Euros title defence when Chiesa was brought on from the bench late on. If he can perform those same duties in Liverpool colours, then Slot may have another fearsome weapon in his Anfield armoury.
“He will be a reserve and, in the future, it will be very difficult for him to become a starter, although you can never say never,” adds Di Canio. “With players of the caliber of Luis Diaz, Salah, Gakpo and (Darwin) Nunez, it will be very difficult for him to find space.
“We hope he can carve out an important role in a wonderful city and in a fantastic stadium. We wish him the best and hope he can find what he lost a few years ago, which is a prominent role thanks to his talent.”
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