Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso breaks silence after Federico Chiesa’s shock decision to turn down Azzurri call-up

Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso has confirmed that Federico Chiesa turned down a call-up to the national team for their November fixtures.

The Azzurri boss revealed that the Liverpool forward, who previously admitted to not being “100%” during the October internationals, remains in regular contact with him.

Chiesa, 28, hasn’t featured for Italy since his move to Liverpool in the summer of 2024, with his last appearance coming in the Euro 2024 defeat to Switzerland nearly a year and a half ago.

Gattuso addresses Chiesa’s absence
Chiesa’s omission from the latest Italy squad raised eyebrows, especially as Gattuso was keen to include him for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Norway.

Speaking to Mail Sport, the Italy coach explained:

> “I often talk to him. We must respect each other’s decisions and personal situations. We know what we discuss privately, and I have to respect what the player tells me. That’s all I can say.”

When pressed on whether it was indeed Chiesa’s choice not to join the squad, Gattuso replied:

> “Yes, this is already the fourth or fifth time I’ve explained it.”

A surprise decision from Chiesa
Chiesa’s refusal to join the national side comes as a surprise, especially considering his limited playing time at Liverpool. Despite increased involvement this season, his only two starts have come in the Carabao Cup, totaling just 344 minutes across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).

Rumours from Italy suggest Napoli are monitoring the forward’s situation, hoping to tempt him back to Serie A in the near future.

While the full reason behind Chiesa’s decision remains unclear, it’s hard to criticise him without knowing the full story. From Liverpool’s standpoint, fans will simply hope he stays fit, focused, and ready to contribute more goals in the red shirt as the season progresses.