Andoni Iraola magic: Now Liverpool star wants to stay in dramatic u-turn

One Liverpool star now wants to remain at the club after Andoni Iraola arrived. We all thought he was gone!

Liverpool are currently working through their potential incomings and outgoing for the summer. Things are on hold for a couple of reasons, though.

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Firstly, there's the World Cup. That naturally puts a halt on things as the usual domino effect won't happen for another month.

Then there's the fact that Liverpool moved on from Arne Slot. Andoni Iraola is now in as head coach, with the Reds' transfer plans shifting slightly as a result.

And that means both who to buy and who to sell. Certain players will completely change their own plans on the back of a coaching change like that, as evidenced by reports that Federico Chiesa now wants to remain at the club.

He was the first arrival under Slot but never actually given a proper opportunity to shine. Just two Premier League starts in two seasons - if you tally all his minutes in the league, Chiesa has played roughly five full matches.

It was expected that the Italian would move on this summer, presumably back to Serie A. Journalist Mirko Di Natale, however, claims that Chiesa has had a change of heart.

The fresh start under Iraola appeals to him and he apparently wants to remain at Liverpool as a result. Chiesa must believe that he can finally achieve regular football at Anfield under someone new.

Time will tell if he's right.

Federico Chiesa: Situation Summary

Liverpool Career and Performance

As of 15 June 2026, Federico Chiesa is a 28-year-old winger for Liverpool FC. Since making his high-profile move from Juventus to Anfield in August 2024, the dynamic Italian forward has experienced a turbulent time in England. The 2025/26 campaign saw him restricted to 24 appearances across all competitions due to persistent fitness issues. Despite these setbacks, he contributed four goals and five assists, showing flashes of his explosive pace and technical quality to help Liverpool secure another Premier League title under Arne Slot, though he remains eager to secure a more permanent starting role next season.

International Status and World Cup Involvement

Chiesa is currently a notable absentee from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. After the Italy national team sensationally failed to qualify for the tournament during UEFA's playoff rounds, the winger remained behind in Europe. He is utilizing the summer break to focus entirely on full physical rehabilitation and pre-season preparation.