One of the main criticisms that has come Jadon Sancho’s way since that £73 million move to Manchester United – even before his very public fall-out with Erik ten Hag – concerned a lack of directness and an absence of the searing pace often associated with the typical Red Devils wideman.
In that sense, the man tipped to replace Jadon Sancho at Old Trafford – Calciomercato reporting that Federico Chiesa is a leading target – feels far more like a winger in the Manchester United tradition.
If Sancho’s game is all about intricate flicks and clever combinations, Chiesa is more of an old-school, chalk-booted throwback in the mould of a Ryan Giggs or an Andrei Kanchelskis. The £60 million-rated speedster took Euro 2020 by storm as Italy claimed the title and, if Erik ten Hag is serious about making United the ‘best transition team in the world‘, then a forward boasting such acceleration and end-product could go a long way to making that ambition a reality.
Manchester United reportedly eye Federico Chiesa
“I’ve heard talk about him winning the Ballon d’Or in three or four years. I agree (he can),” Juventus legend Alessio Tacchinardi told Tuttosport of Chiesa after those dazzling performances at the European Championships.
“I see the same (skills) Pavel Nedved had. (Chiesa) has enormous qualities. He dribbles left and right and can shoot with very little space.”
“In the European Championships, he was unbelievable,” adds former Juve team-mate Gianluigi Buffon. “In the final match with England, it was impossible to stop him. If you do those things at such a high level, then it means that you are really special.”
Juventus and Italy star is ‘really special’
Injuries may have restricted his progress over the last two years or so – costing the 25-year-old the chance to force his way into the Ballon D’Or reckoning – but a fully fit Chiesa has begun the current campaign like a man desperate to make up for lost time. Sinking his teeth into Serie A backlines like a hungry tiger shark.
In just six games, Chiesa has four goals and one assist already. The sort of return Sancho – and most of Manchester United’s forwards for that matter – could only dream of.
“We are very happy with Federico,” beams Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli (DAZN). “Last year he had some physical problems. But now, he is taking the leadership of this dressing room and we are enjoying it.”
For now, rumours linking Chiesa with a move to Man United are no more than that. Rumours.
But with the Sancho saga showing no signs of ending, and with Chiesa back to his devastating pre-injury best, the phrase ‘watch this space’ comes to mind.
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