Why Italy would benefit from Chiesa and Raspadori returning to Serie A

The January transfer window is well underway, and rumours continue to link Federico Chiesa and Giacomo Raspadori with returns to Serie A. Here is why a pair of homecomings would be of benefit to Gennaro Gattuso and the Italy national team. 

Why Chiesa and Raspadori returning to Serie A is good for Italy

Chiesa 

Chiesa was effectively forced out of the Juventus first-team just 18 months ago, but has been linked with a sensational return to Turin this winter. 

The former Fiorentina man spent almost the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign watching on from the sidelines, and, though he has increased his game time in 2025-26, is still a long way off being a first-team regular under Arne Slot. 

Chiesa has not featured for the Italy national team since the final game of EURO 2024, the Round of 16 exit against Switzerland in Berlin, and now, Italy could do with a player of his profile heading into the World Cup play-off campaign. 

Chiesa offers Gattuso both attacking threat and tactical versatility, given that he could feasibly play out wide in a 4-3-3, or as one of the second strikers in a 3-5-2, 3-4-2-1 or a 4-4-2. 

Returning to Juventus this transfer window would surely mean more regular playing time for Chiesa, which is what he needs to get back to full match sharpness, and to put himself in a position where he feels able to help the Italy squad heading into the World Cup play-offs in March. 

Raspadori 

Similarly to Chiesa, Raspadori has struggled to cement himself at his new club after moving away from Serie A. The two-time Scudetto winner is often Diego Simeone’s ‘12th man’ at Atletico Madrid, appearing regularly as a substitute, but rarely as a starter. 

There have been reports that he is already seeking a Serie A return in January, with Roma, Lazio and Napoli all said to have been interested at various stages over the last few weeks. 

Like Chiesa, Raspadori needs to be playing regular first-team football at a competitive level if he is to be in a position to help Italy heading into the World Cup play-offs. Playing at home in Serie A would also bring a sense of familiarity to Raspadori, which can only be of benefit at this stage. 

He also offers a different profile in attack, the area in which Italy are arguably the lightest. Like Chiesa, he could also feature as one of the second strikers or advanced playmakers in a 4-4-2, 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1, and could theoretically play alongside the former Juventus man in the latter of those set-ups.