David James delivered a brutal verdict on rumoured Liverpool transfer target and Juventus forward Federico Chiesa on Twitter after Spain beat Italy in the UEFA Nations League.
Italy hosted Spain on Wednesday night for their semi-final tie, but a Ferran Torres braced sealed victory for La Roja. Chiesa helped Gli Azzurri threaten a late comeback by assisting Lorenzo Pellegrini in the 83rd-minute. However, the Roma star’s goal proved to be too late.
Chiesa made a fabulous counter-attacking run from his own half to hit Spain on the break before unselfishly finding Pellegrini. He had also tested Unai Simon inside six-minutes with a long-range strike, before finding the post on the hour mark.
Chiesa has been involved in four goals (scoring three) in his last seven appearances for Italy and three (scoring two) in his last seven for Juventus, in all competitions, after a summer with reports linking the 23-year-old with a Premier League transfer to Liverpool or Chelsea.
Italian publication La Repubblica claimed Liverpool bid €100m (£85m) to sign Chiesa from Juventus. Sport1 journalist Florian Plettenberg also told Sports Illustrated that the Reds made the Bianconeri an offer. Rivalling Chelsea, who also bid €100m, but Juve said no.
Chiesa also wanted to stay in Turin than leave the Allianz Stadium for Anfield or Stamford Bridge. Which, going by James’ verdict, may not have been the worst thing, with the former Reds goalkeeper comparing the Italian forward’s touch to comedian and actor Peter Kay.
“Chiesa, sometimes touches like the best player in the world, sometimes touches like Peter Kay,” James tweeted.
Should Liverpool target Chiesa transfer again in 2022?
Victory for Spain ended Italy’s world-record 37-game unbeaten run and secured revenge for their Euro 2020 semi-final penalty shootout loss. Chiesa offered Roberto Mancini hope of extending Gli Azzurri’s record, despite James’ verdict, with a promising performance.
Chiesa forced Simon to make a sharp save to keep out his testing long-range drive in the first-half. His assist for Pellegrini also showed the £57k-a-week forward’s game-changing ability. Running half the pitch and putting the ball on a plate for his teammate to score.
Chelsea learnt first-hand what Chiesa can do, as well, after the Liverpool target scored 10-seconds into the second-half of Juventus’ 2-0 Champions League group stage win last week. But either may struggle to convince him to leave Turin if they revive their interest.
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