Federico Chiesa has opted out of Italy’s crucial November internationals but what are the reasons behind his omission? Chiesa has shone for Liverpool this season despite not being a regular starter. In fact, all of the 28-year-old’s league appearances have come from the bench. Azzurri boss Gennaro Gattuso was expected to include Chiesa for the […]
Federico Chiesa has opted out of Italy’s crucial November internationals but what are the reasons behind his omission?
Chiesa has shone for Liverpool this season despite not being a regular starter. In fact, all of the 28-year-old’s league appearances have come from the bench.
Azzurri boss Gennaro Gattuso was expected to include Chiesa for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Norway this month. However, the 2006 winner explained on Monday why Chiesa missed the cut.
Why Is Federico Chiesa Not In The Italy Squad?
When the Italy squad was announced, many Azzurri supporters were left somewhat confused as to why Federico Chiesa wasn’t included.
Head coach Gennaro Gattuso addressed the situation in his press conference as to why the Liverpool star missed out. Chiesa also did so in September and October’s rosters.
The reasoning behind it hasn’t actually been disclosed by either party. Chiesa is unlikely to speak publicly about why he doesn’t want to feature for the national side.
And the same applies for Gattuso. Whether he knows the full reasoning behind it remains to be seen but he did reveal that the Liverpool forward asked to be left out.
Whether there are fitness concerns or Chiesa doesn’t feel that he’ll benefit under Gattuso are just two factors that can be speculated. Only time will tell if the truth surfaces but as it stands, Chiesa just simply asked to be omitted.
Gennaro Gattuso On Federico Chiesa
“I speak often with Chiesa, we simply need to respect the decision each one of us makes and the issues we have. There’s nothing else for me to say, this is the truth,” Gennaro Gattuso told reporters.
Journalists then pressed Gattuso whether his previous omissions were down to him, or Federico Chiesa himself. The Italy boss explained that the player has not wanted to be included all season.
“Was it Chiesa’s choice? Yes, it’s easy to see, otherwise I wouldn’t be explaining it for the 5th time.” Gattuso said.
🇮🇹 Gattuso confirms it was Chiesa’s decision to not join the Italian National Team
“I speak often with Chiesa, we simply need to respect the decision each one of us makes and the issues we have.
There’s nothing else for me to say, this is the truth.
Was it Chiesa’s choice?… pic.twitter.com/7GQUcny6WG
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) November 10, 2025
Will Federico Chiesa Play For Italy Whilst Gennaro Gattuso Is In Charge?
Roberto Mancini installed as the favorite to replace Gennaro Gattuso in the next Italy manager market. Perhaps that is insurance if Gattuso fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals.
If that were to happen, it has the potential to catapult Federico Chiesa back into the fold. The Liverpool forward starred when the Azzurri won Euro 2020 under the guidance of Mancini.
However, it remains to be seen whether Chiesa will make himself available whilst Gattuso is still in the dugout. He definitely has the skill and experience to be part of the squad but it’s clear something isn’t right between the player and head coach.
Therefore, it’s hard to envisage Chiesa playing for Italy at the moment but as supporters know, soccer is a funny old game. If there has been some kind of in-house fallout, there’s the possibility of it being rectified.
If that was the case, there would be a great opportunity for Chiesa to be involved in March’s internationals. At this stage, the fixtures will likely be the World Cup playoffs game. Thus, providing a prime chance for Chiesa to show his quality.
When Did Federico Chiesa Last Play For Italy?
The last time Federico Chiesa represented Italy was in June last year. His last appearance in an Azzurri jersey came in the lackluster 2-0 defeat to Switzerland at Euro 2024.
That effectively ended Luciano Spalletti’s reign as boss and he was removed from his post in the summer of 2025. The Round of 16 defeat to the Swiss also spelled a temporary end to Chiesa’s international career.
The 28-year-old made his debut in March 2018 and has gone on to collect over 50 caps since. To date, Chiesa has seven goals for the senior side with his last coming against North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualifier exactly two years ago.
If Italy fail to qualify for the World Cup, there is the potential for Chiesa not to play until the latter part of next year. Something of which supporters will not want to happen.
Fan Reaction On Social Media
The general feeling on X from soccer supporters is that Federico Chiesa wanted to protect himself from injury. After all, the Liverpool forward has missed a lot of game time over the last few seasons.
“If a player turns down a call up, there is usually more beneath the surface than what is said in public. Chiesa has carried a heavy load for years through injuries and pressure.
“Sometimes stepping back is the only way to protect your career and mental state. Better to miss a window than burn out completely,” one user commented.
Another tweeted: “You can’t blame him honestly. After what his body’s been through, maybe peace and fitness mean more than national duty right now.”
A third posted: “It isn’t important to have him up now. Have him fit and ready as a potential option at the next window. If he is fit and ready, he’ll be on the squad. In the meanwhile, I’d call up Camarda. See what he can do with national level competition,”
If the above comments are on the right track then it seems plausible as to why Chiesa declined the call-up. However, if there has been an issue with Gennaro Gattuso, it may be a while before he dons the famous Azzurri jersey once again.
