Juventus chief gives 'honest' reason why Federico Chiesa was sold in bargain Liverpool transfer

Juventus chief Cristiano Giuntoli has opened up on the reasons behind Federico Chiesa's move to Liverpool, revealing the details behind the $16.8m (£12.5m/€15m) switch just as the summer transfer deadline loomed.

Chiesa, who continuously hit headlines over a potential exit from Juventus during the summer, saw his Liverpool link gain momentum when he was left out of the Serie A giant's pre-season action due to being deemed surplus to requirements by incoming boss Thiago Motta.

Liverpool made their interest concrete and landed Chiesa after Barcelona's glances, with the Italian swiftly marking his presence at Anfield by assisting Diogo Jota during Liverpool's dominant 5-1 Carabao Cup triumph over West Ham earlier this week.

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In a recent Corriere della Sera interview, Giuntoli laid bare the conversations that led to Chiesa swapping Turin for Merseyside, sending a heartfelt message to Liverpool's new No. 14 as he embarks on his Reds journey.

"With clarity and simplicity, with the player and his entourage we've always been very honest," Giuntoli said.

"All together we've looked for the best solution for the player, who is very strong and we wish him all the best possible."

Liverpool has been gradually integrating Chiesa into the squad since his transfer from Juventus. The Reds' boss, Arne Slot, gave the Italian his first taste of Premier League action as a late sub in last week's victory over Bournemouth.

It's still up in the air whether the forward will see more game time in Saturday's showdown with Wolves.

Liverpool.com says: It was a curious decision from Juventus to let Chiesa go so cheaply during the summer. Yes, he has had his injury problems over the years, but $16.8m for a player of his quality is an absolute steal, even if he wasn't in Thiago Motta's plans.

It's no surprise then that Liverpool made the move, and why other clubs probably eyed him up as well. Even if there had been concerns over his fitness in the past, at the price, it is worth the risk, especially since he will primarily act as backup to Mohamed Salah.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.