Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool debut may have to wait, according to Arne Slot, since the Italian attacker arrived ahead of Sunday’s matchup with Manchester United.
Chiesa, a long-term Juventus player, signed with Slot’s team on Thursday, becoming Liverpool’s first significant addition since the end of the last campaign.
The 26-year-old’s acquisition gives Liverpool’s offense more firepower, but Reds manager Slot doesn’t think Chiesa will be fit for the matchup at Old Trafford against bitter rivals United.
“Chiesa is going to train with us today. There’s a bigger chance that he’s not in the squad,” Slot told reporters on Friday.
“If injuries might come up in the next two days we might need him, but I don’t expect him to be in, but I cannot guarantee it.”
After sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January 2022, Hiesa played 37 games for Juventus and scored 10 goals in his first full season back.
Additionally, Slot stated that the forward might require some time to adjust after making an impression for Italy at Euro 2024.
“If we sign someone that can help us achieve our goals and improve the squad, we’re excited to have brought him in,” he said.
“One of the best things of working here, I’ve noticed, is the culture of this team.
“They work really hard to try and achieve their goals and I think that’s really important that the first player you bring in has that same attitude and the same culture.”
Slot thinks Chiesa will be a useful addition since he can play all three positions on the offensive line for Liverpool.
“He works really hard on and off the pitch to try to get the best out of him and he combines this with scoring goals,” he said.
“He’s really aggressive without the ball and those are already two characteristics.
“With him playing in so many positions, on the right, on the left and maybe even in the middle, makes him an interesting signing for us.
“We should take care of him in the beginning because he didn’t train with the team in the last two weeks, but before he did.
“He hasn’t played many game minutes yet but we have a very good performance staff, so we will build him up in the right way and hopefully we can see his quality in the near future.”
Slot’s first visit to Old Trafford as manager of Liverpool matches him up with fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag, whose United team lost disappointingly, 2-1, at Brighton last weekend.
Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp during the off-season and has subsequently overseen two straight league triumphs since joining from Feyenoord.
The transfer market closes this Friday night, and Slot does not anticipate any more additions on deadline day. Giorgi Mamardashvili, a goalkeeper from Georgia, signed with Valencia, although he is not expected to play until the next season.
“Not expecting anything but that’s no different than all the days before. If we see an opportunity we could act but I’m not expecting anything,” he said.
