Gattuso Shares Details of Talk With Liverpool Star on Italy Selection
Gattuso Explains Italy Snub After Talks With Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa
Liverpool’s attacking options grew this summer with the high-profile arrivals of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, leaving Federico Chiesa facing increased competition for game time.
The 27-year-old forward has already made an impact this season, scoring the winner against Bournemouth at Anfield, but questions remain about his long-term role under Arne Slot.
Left Out by Club and Country
Despite playing more minutes in the opening league games than he did for long stretches last term, Chiesa was excluded from Liverpool’s Champions League squad. Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso has now shed light on why the forward was also omitted from the national team.
Speaking to reporters, Gattuso revealed via CBS journalist Marco Messina:
“We wanted to call him up, but I felt he wasn’t fully committed. For games like this, you need to be completely ready. He told me himself that he needed more time to work on certain aspects and didn’t feel at his best.”
That decision reflects how Slot has been managing him, using Chiesa primarily as a bench option while Isak and Ekitike have been favoured from the start.
Uncertain Future at Anfield
Injuries have disrupted Chiesa’s rhythm in recent seasons, and both Slot and Gattuso appear cautious about his ability to handle back-to-back high-intensity fixtures.
With Liverpool investing over £240m on Florian Wirtz and Isak, Chiesa’s chances of becoming a regular starter have diminished.
Although rumours of a summer exit didn’t materialise, the Italian’s Anfield career now looks finely balanced. For the moment, he seems set to focus on regaining full fitness and contributing in the Premier League and domestic cups, while Liverpool’s European campaign moves forward without him.
