Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso has put an end to the ongoing debate surrounding Federico Chiesa’s absence from the national team, stressing that it is entirely the player’s personal choice and not a decision imposed by the coaching staff. Softfootball reported that the Italian coach had earlier addressed the issue during international duty, but persistent questioning has prompted him to reiterate his response again.
With the Azzurri gearing up for a high-stakes World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland on March 26, 2026, Gattuso revealed he has maintained steady, respectful communication with the Liverpool winger ahead of every international window.
According to the coach, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account, Chiesa has consistently declined recent call-ups, explaining that he doesn’t feel fully ready, either physically or mentally, to return to the rhythm of international football. It’s a stance Gattuso says he must respect, even though he’d prefer to have the 28-year-old available.
Fabrizio Posted:
Italy coach Gattuso on calling up Chiesa for the World Cup playoffs: You know this very well. I call Chiesa before every international break.
The problem isn’t Gattuso or his coaching staff. It’s his problem. Not ours. You know that very well.
Chiesa, who played a decisive role in Italy’s Euro 2020 success, hasn’t featured for the Azzurri since the round-of-16 loss to Switzerland at Euro 2024. Following his move to Liverpool later that summer, the winger went through a period of adaptation and fitness rebuilding, which initially delayed any potential return to the national team setup.
Though he has gradually found his feet this season, scoring in Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixture and adding more goal contributions, his continued absence from Italy duty has become increasingly noticeable.
Gattuso, however, has repeatedly insisted the door is wide open. He dismissed rumours of a rift, reaffirming that communication between them remains open, calm, and professional.
As Italy prepares for a pressure-filled playoff campaign to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, having missed out on automatic qualification following their defeat to Erling Haaland’s Norway, Gattuso is shifting his focus to squad unity and managing the team’s mental and physical balance.
Whether Chiesa returns before the World Cup remains uncertain. For now, it depends entirely on the player’s own timeline, and when he feels confident enough to wear the Azzurri shirt again.
