£180,000-a-Week Liverpool Star Wants to Leave in January After Slot Decision

Federico Chiesa was supposed to be one of the biggest stars at Liverpool when he arrived from Juventus last year. His name carried weight across Europe, his reputation as one of Italy’s finest attacking players gave fans hope that he could light up Anfield in the way legends before him had done. But fast forward to September 2025 and the story has turned dark for the Italian winger. Instead of being at the center of Liverpool’s new era under Arne Slot, Chiesa now finds himself sitting on the fringes, watching others take the spotlight, while his own career dreams slowly slip away. Reports from Spain have now revealed that Chiesa is ready to walk away from Anfield as soon as January, with his patience running out after being left out of Slot’s plans.

At 27 years old, Chiesa knows he does not have endless time left in his prime years. The World Cup in 2026 looms on the horizon, a tournament where every top player dreams of playing. For Italy, Chiesa has been a warrior over the years, scoring goals and assisting in crucial matches. But to make it into Luciano Spalletti’s squad, he needs to be playing regular football. Sitting on Liverpool’s bench or worse, not even in the Champions League squad, is a disaster for him. His decision to push for a move in January is not only about leaving Liverpool—it is about saving his international career and proving that he still has the fire that once made him one of Europe’s most feared attackers.

The truth is that Chiesa’s Liverpool career has never taken off. From the moment he signed, things just didn’t go as planned. His first season was ruined by a muscle injury at the start of the campaign. That injury kept him out for months, robbed him of sharpness, and meant he never built the rhythm needed to thrive in the Premier League. By the time he returned, Liverpool were flying, and his role was reduced to the odd appearance from the bench. He finished that debut season with only 14 appearances across all competitions, scoring just two goals. For a player of his quality and reputation, that return was underwhelming, even heartbreaking.

Liverpool fans wanted to believe that the second season would be different. But instead, things have gone from bad to worse. Chiesa has played only 47 minutes of Premier League football so far this season, and although he did score in a 4-2 win over Bournemouth on the opening weekend, that moment of hope has not led to more opportunities. He has been left out of the Champions League squad entirely, a brutal decision by Arne Slot that many believe sent a clear message: Chiesa is not part of the Dutch manager’s plans.

Slot has not been afraid to make bold calls since replacing Jürgen Klopp in the summer. His mission has been to reshape Liverpool in his own image, to modernize the team and give it new energy. That meant a transfer window that stunned the football world. Liverpool spent £450 million on new arrivals, smashing records in the process. The jewel of their transfer crown was Alexander Isak, who arrived from Newcastle for £125 million, becoming the most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history. Alongside him came Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, two young stars with huge futures. Suddenly, the competition for places in attack was fiercer than ever, and Chiesa, who was already struggling, found himself pushed further down the pecking order.

Liverpool’s front line, once the pride of world football under Klopp, has now entered a new era. Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz both left in the summer, while club icon Trent Alexander-Arnold also said goodbye to Anfield. The old guard made way for a younger, fresher, and more expensive set of players. For someone like Chiesa, who needed faith and patience after his injury setbacks, the timing could not have been worse. Instead of being trusted, he has been sidelined. Instead of leading, he has become an afterthought.

And now, with the January transfer window approaching, the Italian forward is said to have made up his mind. According to reports, Chiesa wants to leave Liverpool in search of regular football. He earns £180,000 a week, but money is not the issue. For him, the priority is playing time. If he cannot find it at Anfield, then he will go elsewhere. His future may lie back in Italy, where several Serie A clubs are said to be watching closely. During the summer, there was already interest from his homeland, but he decided to stay and fight for his place. That decision has now backfired, and in January, a move looks increasingly likely.

It is a painful situation, not just for Chiesa but also for Liverpool fans who once celebrated his signing. Many dreamed of seeing him become the heir to legends of the past, weaving his magic on the wing, scoring goals in front of the Kop, and becoming a hero of Anfield nights. Instead, his Liverpool story has been one of frustration, missed chances, and endless waiting. His exclusion from the Champions League squad was the final straw for many supporters, who now see his departure as inevitable.

But in football, nothing is ever simple. Liverpool’s hierarchy still face a difficult decision. Selling Chiesa in January would mean admitting that their investment in him has failed. It would also mean losing an experienced attacker who, on his day, can change games. Arne Slot’s decision to push him aside has not been without critics. Some argue that Chiesa has not been given enough time to prove himself. Others believe that Liverpool’s squad overhaul has been too ruthless, with players discarded too quickly in pursuit of new stars.

For Chiesa, though, the bigger picture is clear. He wants to play. He needs to play. Italy’s World Cup hopes may depend on him returning to form and playing week in, week out. Staying at Liverpool and sitting on the bench is not an option if he wants to shine in 2026. His career has reached a crossroads, and January could be the moment he takes a new path.

Liverpool’s next matches will only underline the scale of the challenge he faces. The Reds are preparing for a Merseyside derby against Everton, a game that means everything to the city. Yet, few expect Chiesa to play a role in that clash. His name is more likely to be on the sidelines than on the team sheet. For a player once described as one of the most exciting attackers in Europe, that reality must hurt deeply.

Fans of Chiesa will remember his heroics for Italy at Euro 2020, when he lit up the tournament with dazzling performances, scoring crucial goals, and helping his country lift the trophy. Back then, he was fearless, unstoppable, and destined for greatness. The man who terrorized defenses across Europe now finds himself invisible at Anfield. That fall from grace is hard to comprehend. It is a reminder of how brutal football can be, how quickly fortunes can change.

Liverpool’s story this season has been about bold new beginnings. The team remains unbeaten in the Premier League, grinding out results and showing the resilience needed to defend their crown. But beneath the success, there are cracks in the dressing room, stories of players left behind as the new era takes shape. Federico Chiesa is the clearest example of this. He is not injured, he is not finished—but he is unwanted. That is a heavy burden for any footballer to carry.

If Chiesa does leave in January, the next question will be: where does he go? Italy seems like the obvious destination. Serie A clubs know him, love him, and understand how to get the best out of him. Juventus, his former club, could be tempted, while the likes of AC Milan, Inter, and Roma are always on the lookout for players of his pedigree. A return to Italy could reignite his career and give him the platform he needs ahead of the World Cup. But there may also be interest from other leagues, with Spanish and German clubs keeping watch. One thing is certain: he will not be short of suitors.

For Liverpool, the bigger issue will be how his departure fits into the long-term plan. The club has already invested heavily in their new front line. Isak, Ekitike, and Wirtz are expected to carry the team for years to come. Selling Chiesa might free up wages and space in the squad, but it will also raise questions about the way the club manages signings. Spending big on a player only to let him go a year later is never a good look.

Yet football is not about appearances—it is about results. And right now, Liverpool’s results are strong. Arne Slot will feel justified in his decisions as long as the wins keep coming. Chiesa, meanwhile, will look back on his time at Anfield with regret. It was supposed to be a fresh chapter, a chance to prove himself in England, to conquer the Premier League. Instead, it has become a story of what might have been.

The coming weeks will be crucial. If Chiesa is given chances in cup matches or late substitute appearances, he might still change Slot’s mind. Football is unpredictable, and one big performance can turn everything around. But with each game he spends on the sidelines, the gap between him and the Liverpool future grows wider. January is fast approaching, and so is his decision.

For Liverpool fans, the Chiesa saga is a reminder of how quickly the game moves. Heroes can become forgotten, stars can fade, and new idols can take their place in the blink of an eye. Chiesa may yet rise again—but whether that is at Anfield or somewhere else remains to be seen. What is clear is that the clock is ticking, and Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool career is hanging by a thread.

And so, as Anfield prepares for another season of battles, as Slot shapes his empire, one man stands at the edge, watching, waiting, and longing to play. Federico Chiesa, once Italy’s golden boy, now finds himself fighting to be remembered. His story at Liverpool may soon be over, but his journey in football is far from finished. What happens next could define not only his career but also his legacy