Federico Chiesa returns to Liverpool training after Italy withdrawal
Federico Chiesa has returned to training with Liverpool immediately after withdrawing from the Italy national team squad, a move that has sparked significant controversy among Italian supporters. The winger left the Azzurri's camp on March 23, with the Italian Football Federation releasing a brief statement confirming his departure on medical grounds. Liverpool manager Arne Slot has since confirmed that Chiesa is training normally with the Premier League club and is in contention for their next match.
Chiesa's exit from the Italy setup came just days before the team's surprising elimination from UEFA Nations League contention by Bosnia. National team coach Gennaro Gattuso offered a cryptic explanation at the time, stating, "The heads of the players are not all the same," without providing specific details on Chiesa's condition. The federation's medical staff approved his return to England, though Liverpool did not issue any corresponding statement about the player's status.
The situation escalated when it emerged that Chiesa was participating fully in training at Liverpool's Kirkby base while Italy was competing. According to reports from Italian media, this prompted a furious reaction on social media, with many fans calling for him to be excluded from future national team selections. Slot addressed the situation directly in his pre-match press conference, saying, "Federico returned from the national team, where he could not play. He trained with us, he will do so in the coming days and he will be available for our match at the weekend."
The 28-year-old joined Liverpool from Juventus in the summer of 2024 for a fee reported to be in the region of £45 million, signing a four-year contract. His time at Anfield has been punctuated by intermittent fitness concerns, though he has remained a key attacking option when available. His recent commitment to club duties, following a controversial international break, highlights the ongoing tension players can face between club and country commitments, particularly during a congested fixture schedule.
For Italy, the episode adds to a period of turbulence under Gattuso, with the team's failure to progress raising questions about the squad's direction. For Liverpool, Chiesa's availability is a positive as they chase trophies on multiple fronts in the final months of the season. The incident underscores the delicate balance top players must strike, with club medical assessments often differing from those of national federations, a recurring point of contention in modern football.
