Juventus: Sorry Europe, Federico Chiesa is not for sale

On a night where my emotions were as volatile as the current crypto market, deep sighs of relief offered fleeting moments of respite. I distinctly recall, however, one sigh feeling a little more substantial.

With the Euro 2020 final locked at 1-1 and extra-time beckoning, fourth official Carlos Del Cerro Grande revealed that Federico Chiesa’s tournament was over. It was the first time since Leonardo Bonucci’s scrambled equaliser where I truly felt that football was coming home.

Chiesa’s exit after 86 minutes left Italy without their most potent threat of the night and bereft of a true match-winner. It was time for Gareth Southgate to be aggressive, to snatch back control of a contest that had escaped them for an hour, but no such aggression was forthcoming and penalties ensued.

You know the rest.

Chiesa’s exhibition

For Chiesa, Euro 2020 was another step conquered on his inevitable path to superstardom. After enduring a quiet start to the tournament thanks to Roberto Mancini’s trust in Domenico Berardi, the knockout phase saw the 23-year-old blossom and his electric skillset manifested with impressive persistence.

A distinct unease hit the stomachs of England supporters every time he touched the ball on Sunday night. The feeling that Italy’s number 14 could conjure up something from thin air to halt their side’s unwavering momentum was overriding early on in proceedings.

Chiesa shone the brightest amid a stuttering Azzurri showing in the opening period before emerging as the most fearsome threat as his side upped the ante after the break; attacking off both flanks with indiscriminate menace.

The series in the first half that saw the Italian winger temporarily turn the otherwise brilliant Declan Rice into a discombobulated Beyblade before driving into space and narrowly firing wide with his ‘weaker’ left foot depicted his capacity to create something from absolutely nothing. The moment certainly brought about a universal puff of the cheeks and a nervous “wheyyyyyy” among England supporters, for that was the first time the Azzurri had sniffed Jordan Pickford’s goal following Luke Shaw’s early opener.

Chiesa’s determined dribble to bypass Shaw and Rice was one of five he completed on the night (the most by any player), but his most dazzling sequence arrived before Bonucci’s leveller in the second period. This time, Chiesa’s concatenation of one-v-one magic culminated in a shot at goal, forcing a tidy save from Pickford low to the goalkeeper’s right. 

Being English and all that, this was a performance I wasn’t allowed to enjoy on the night. There were certainly moments of Chiesa magic worthy of a joyous groan or a round of applause, but such reactions simply aren’t feasible when surrounded by dozens of alcohol guzzling, crab linguine slandering Englishmen.

Nevertheless, while in a state of utter deflation and borderline depression after watching Gianluigi Donnarumma save a pair of spot-kicks from two loveable Young Lions, the admiration that I attempted to contain last night has swiftly shone through. This was a true ‘grab the game by the scruff of the neck performance’ by a player whose prestige has grown exponentially since the start of the year.

There are no bounds to what Chiesa could achieve in the coming years.

Transfer interest

Chiesa will return to Turin as a European champion alongside teammates Giorgio Chiellini, Bonucci and Federico Bernardeschi. But will Juventus be able to keep him on their books this summer?

The short answer is an emphatic yes. The Italian’s stock may well be at an all-time high but the Bianconeri regard the 23-year-old as “untouchable”.

Fabrizio Romano reported on the eve of the final that Chiesa will be one of the “key players” in Massimiliano Allegri’s second project at the club.

German giants Bayern Munich have been touted as boasting an interest in the Italian, with Julian Nagelsmann an admirer. The new Bayern boss, however, was coy on a potential move: “Yes, he’s good but he’s expensive, too,” he told Bild (via Goal).

“He’s a top player, with incredible drive. I’ve known him for a long time and I find him exceptional because he often goes for a one-on-one, he tries to shoot very fast.” Nagelsmann neatly summarised.

Chiesa’s reportedly valued in the region of €60m; a seemingly trivial figure plucked out at random by the media. He’s a priceless asset for Juventus, one that Juventini are incredibly fortunate to have.