Federico Chiesa was one of Juventus’ best players this season and Fabio De Dominicis believes the winger will shine in his first international tournament.
A definite shoo-in for the Italian team not only for this summer’s European Championship but far beyond as well, the national team’s foreseeable future can be built around players such as Federico Chiesa.
The 23-year-old speedster was a late acquisition for Juventus this season, having already donned La Viola shirt three times before his purple top was traded for the black and white stripes. With Dejan Kulusevski already signed and sealed by the Bianconeri earlier in January 2020, many doubted where and how the budding talent would fit in Turin.
Following the worst possible start with a straight red card on debut, Chiesa has over the season emerged as one of the hottest properties in Serie A, silencing his critics with impressive displays and ending the season as the standout performer at his club.
Deployed on either flank, the fleet-footed winger has skill, good technique and pace to burn, his high energy and work rate benefitting his team both offensively and defensively. Equally adept at crossing from the right, or cutting in from the left and shooting with his stronger right foot, the prodigious talent has a keen eye for goal, involving himself in 26 goals – 15 goals and 11 assists – across all competitions in his debut season with Juventus. It was undoubtedly the best season of his career so far. If he were a song, he would be ‘Don’t stop me now’ by the Queen.
His man-of-the-match display in the Coppa Italia Final, followed by his quick-fire opener in his side’s must-win final game of the league season against Bologna, showcased his big-match temperament.
A regular for the national team under Roberto Mancini’s watch, he has already amassed 24 caps since his debut in 2018.
Often utilised off the bench to inject his pace and energy into the game, this ploy could be vital against tired legs in the latter stages of important fixtures at the EUROs, where Chiesa will no doubt be under the spotlight and be keen to take his brilliant club form onto the international stage.