Rio Ferdinand rues Manchester United’s failure to sign ‘fantastic’ Federico Chiesa… with Joe Cole comparing Italy and Juventus star to ‘a young Luis Suarez’
- Rio Ferdinand said he’s gutted Manchester United didn’t sign Federico Chiesa
- The 23-year-old Italian scored Juventus’ winner against Chelsea on Wednesday
- Ferdinand called Chiesa a ‘huge player’ that ‘unnerves defenders’ with his play
Rio Ferdinand has expressed his disappointment that Manchester United did not manage to secure the services of rising Juventus star Federico Chiesa.
The 23-year-old Italian is one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe after a stellar summer helping Italy win Euro 2020, and he was on hand again to score the only goal in sinking European champions Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Despite the clamour around Chiesa over the summer transfer window, Juve managed to hang onto their supreme talent, and Ferdinand said after his match-winning performance against Chelsea, several Premier League clubs will be ruing their failure to bring him in.
Rio Ferdinand (left) said Premier League clubs will rue not signing Federico Chiesa (right)
Chiesa scored Juventus’ only goal in beating Chelsea 1-0 in their Champions League group tie
‘He’s a huge player and he’s been linked with a few clubs in England,’ Ferdinand told BT Sport. ‘I’m sure they’re thinking “why didn’t we get him?”
‘He’s just a fantastic footballer. The intensity with which he plays with, we saw in the Euros he was the main goal threat for the Italians who went on to win the tournament.’
Fellow pundit Joe Cole also heaped the plaudits on Chiesa, comparing him to Liverpool and Barcelona legend Luis Suarez.
‘The biggest attribute he’s got is he plays with a humility,’ said Cole. ‘He’s hustling and bustling like a young Luis Suarez character, he can make something out of nothing.
Joe Cole compared Chiesa (left) to a young Luis Suarez (right) in terms of his style of play
‘Every club in Europe will want a slice of him when he become available.’
Ferdinand was particularly impressed with Chiesa’s ability to drive at defenders at pace, which he said as an experienced former centre-back is extremely difficult to deal with.
‘It’s his pace, his drive. He’s the one who is the threat, he’s potent, he wants to run in behind,’ said Ferdinand.
Chiesa (right) was a key part of the Italy team that won the European Championships in June
‘He’s that modern day striker who can play anywhere across the front line and he’s as comfortable out wide as he is through the middle. He unnerves defenders with that pace, he’s so direct.’
Chiesa joined Juventus from Fiorentina in October 2020 and scored 15 goals in all competitions last season, together with providing 11 assists.
He also scored two goals for Italy on their way to clinching the Euro 2020 championship.
