Federico Chiesa completed a move to Liverpool from Juventus before transfer deadline day and Michael Owen has backed the Italian to be a success at Anfield.
Michael Owen has expressed his belief that Federico Chiesa will be an excellent acquisition for Liverpool, crediting the club’s storied history for enabling them to capture him at a bargain price. Chiesa made the transfer from Juventus to Liverpool for an initial £10million fee, with a potential additional £2.5m in add-ons, opting to reject more profitable propositions from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Chiesa agreed to a four-year plan at Anfield with a weekly wage of approximately £80,000.
Owen told DAZN, courtesy of AceOdds: “I like him as a player, I think he’s got a lot of class. He’s obviously experienced as well and I think he’s a good player to bring in to bolster the squad. I don’t think he or anyone else is under any illusions that he’s going to play every single game.”
Owen then remarked on Chiesa’s prospective spot within the team: “He’s probably not anticipated starting lots of games but his performances will dictate that. If he does really well then of course he’s going to hold a place down but as things start at the early stage of the season, I would suggest that he will be more of an impact player and he’s going to have to play his way into the team.”
Following his thoughts about Chiesa settling in and the overall deal, Owen added: “However, as I say he’s got class, he’s got experience, he’s obviously a talented lad, and speaks the language so hopefully he settles in pretty well and then we’ll see after that. I think it’s a really good buy,” reports the Mirror.
To conclude, Owen shared his perspective on the influence of Liverpool’s status on the transfer: “I think if you were a lesser team you might have to pay a bit more but because he would probably want a move like this once it was announced that maybe he was leaving I think he would want a move like this, so it works for everybody.
“Liverpool has almost utilised the club, the badge, the history, and everything else to get somebody who might be worth a little bit more than they’ve paid. I think it’s been a good signing, but again time will tell.”
Chiesa himself has expressed how Liverpool’s rich heritage influenced his decision to join the team. “When Richard Hughes called me and he said, ‘Do you want to join Liverpool?’ and the coach called me I said yes immediately because I know the history of this club, I know what it represents to the fans,” he remarked.
The forward shared his excitement about kicking off his career at Anfield, saying: “So, I’m so happy and I can’t wait to get started. It’s a dream that has become a reality. When I hear the word Liverpool I think of trophies, victories and the great nights in the Champions League at Anfield.”
Chiesa also conveyed his anticipation for the iconic matchday atmosphere. “It’s really emotional for me. I can’t wait to hear the anthem and hear all of the 60,000 fans singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. I will give everything for this shirt and the fans.”
