Federico Chiesa stood with his arms aloft on the Wembley pitch, taking the scene in.
The forward had just dazzled to lead Italy to glory in the Euro 2020 final, with Roberto Mancini’s side edging out England on penalties following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics.
Chiesa had the world at his feet after several stunning displays throughout the tournament. The then-23-year-old was a season into a two-year loan at Juventus – a move that would be made permanent the following summer for a fee rising to €50m (£42.2m).
Chiesa was named in the Euro 2020 team of the tournament such were his exploits and those back in Turin couldn’t be happier with the business they had done 12 months earlier in prizing him away from Fiorentina.
Yet, just three summers later, Chiesa is heading for the exit door at Juventus, with Liverpool exploring a move for the forward, who could be available for just €15m (£12.67m). So, what happened to the Italian?
Juventus’ Federico Chiesa was one of the stars of Euro 2020 as Italy won the tournament
Chiesa (bottom right with flag) had the world at his feet after some stunning displays for Italy
But the 26-year-old suffered a serious knee injury in 2022 and could now leave Juventus
Chiesa excelled at the start of the following campaign as Juventus looked to regain the Serie A title having failed to win it in 2020-21 for the first time in 10 years.
His displays included a match-winning goal against Chelsea in a Champions League group stage match as he continued to set European football alight.
However, disaster struck in January 2022 when the forward suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a match against Roma, an issue that Juventus said would rule Chiesa out for at least seven months.
It was in fact 10 months until he returned, with Chiesa making his long-awaited comeback in November 2022.
Given his importance to the Italian giants, Chiesa was immediately thrust into regular action, yet he struggled for form and fitness for the rest of the campaign as he scored just four goals in 33 appearances.
The forward then battled with injuries at the start of 2023-24, but things picked up as Chiesa racked up 37 appearances across the campaign, scoring nine league goals, a record that is the Italian’s best return in a Serie A campaign.
He soon became a key man for Luciano Spalletti’s Italy too as he scored twice during a crucial Euro 2024 qualifying win over North Macedonia.
Chiesa struggled for form and fitness upon his initial return from injury in November 2022
Despite not always being in form last season, Chiesa had the best goalscoring run of his career
Chiesa is one of a number of Juventus players that head coach Thiago Motta wants to move on
Yet, despite this, Chiesa struggled to replicate the same form from three years earlier at Euro 2024, with the forward failing to provide a goal or assist as Italy crashed out in the last-16 stage.
Speaking back in June, Chiesa reflected on his journey over the past two-and-a-half years and remained optimistic.
‘The injury slowed down my career,’ he said. ‘But it taught me a lot. Before I was probably a more instinctive, more impulsive player, and perhaps my game has changed a little, but not my speed.
‘Now I’m back very close to the level I was at before the injury.’
Nevertheless, new Juventus boss Thiago Motta was determined to reshape his squad this summer as the Old Lady aim to win their first Serie A title in five years, meaning several players were being encouraged to leave the club.
This included Chiesa, but the likes of Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Rugani, Tiago Djalo, Arthur Melo, Hans Nicolussi-Caviglia, Filip Kostic and striker Arkadiusz Milik were also all excluded from friendlies in pre-season and some of those players have since departed the club.
‘We were clear internally,’ Motta said earlier this month. ‘We spoke with each of them.
‘We’ve got good players who are used to playing regularly. The club is trying to find solutions for them and, for their own good and the good of everyone, they too have to find solutions as soon as possible.’
Chiesa has just one year left on his deal which explains why he may not command a substantial fee if he does depart, while his injury record also counts against him.
The 26-year-old has missed 420 days of action since the start of the 2021-22 season, meaning he has been absent for 80 matches.
It is understood he had been in talks over a move to Barcelona after being left out of the Juventus squad for their final three pre-season friendlies – with the 26-year-old also absent from their opening two Serie A games – but nothing progressed with the Catalan giants.
Chiesa struggled at Euro 2024 as Italy crashed out in the last-16 stage against Switzerland
Arne Slot is weighing up whether to move for Chiesa, who could cost just €15million (£12.67m)
With the days ticking by until the transfer window closes, it remains to be seen where Chiesa ends up, but time is running out for the prodigiously talented attacker to secure a move.
Mail Sport reported on Monday how Liverpool are exploring move for him ahead of the deadline.
While it wasn’t quite the peak of Chiesa’s powers, the form he showed last season demonstrated that he is closing in on a return to his best.
And at a bargain price, plus the opportunity for Arne Slot to increase the depth of his attacking options, it feels like signing Chiesa would be a risk worth taking for the Reds if they do decide to make a move in the coming days.
But, until something materialises, the career of Italy’s Euro 2020 hero remains at a crossroads.
