“Inter” was ready to move for Federico Chiesa in the summer, “Roma” completed the deal to get Luis Henrique from their ranks. Fabrizio Romano. The contingency plan, relayed via Tuttomercatoweb , never came close to kicking off as Luis Henrique’s move to Roma fell through.
Romano’s report suggests that talks around a potential Chiesa move have progressed significantly beyond what was previously understood, although the entire scenario hinges entirely on Roma’s deal with the Brazilian. It wasn’t a direct approach for Chiesa in isolation, but a plan that depended on Inter losing a squad player first.
Why Chiesa was a backup option
Inter are reportedly looking at Chiesa as a cheap replacement option, with Luis Henrique leaving for Roma, freeing up both roster space and transfer funds. The winger is struggling for minutes after signing in 2024 Juventusand the situation was made worse by Liverpool’s absence from the Champions League squad this season.
Despite his lack of game time, Chiesa has so far been adamant that he does not want to leave Liverpool, according to the same report. This position is one reason why discussions never turned into formal negotiations, apart from the fact that Roma’s move for Luis Henrique itself never materialized. Juventus and Napoli have separately made moves to bring Chiesa back to Serie A, underscoring how worried his future at Anfield is.
Luis Henrique stays put
Luis Henrique moved to Inter from Olympique Marseille for €22.8 million plus bonuses just a year ago. The Brazilian remained on the books at the San Siro as Roma’s interest failed to turn into a real offer before the window closed, and with him on Inter’s list of what it takes to land Chiesa.
The report did not provide a specific figure for what Inter paid or offered Chiesa, only describing him as a cheap option relative to his profile. Without Luis Henrique’s exit, the entire chain never got beyond internal planning.
What happens next
As the Roma-Luis Henrique deal collapsed, Inter’s Chiesa contingent was never activated and no approach was made until the summer window closed. According to the same report, Chiesa remains more likely to leave in January if he finally backs down and accepts that he needs first-team football elsewhere, although that assessment is based on sources rather than any confirmed club position.
