Italy national team head coach Gennaro Gattuso has revealed that Liverpool star Federico Chiesa (28) has declined a call-up to the national team for the decisive World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Moldova and Norway. Chiesa has not played for Italy since the last European Championship, where the team was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Switzerland. Despite playing a pivotal role in winning Euro 2020, injuries and his transfer to an English club made the player think twice before returning to the international squad. Gattuso commented on the situation: "I talk to him a lot, but we have to respect each other's decisions and problems. I have to respect what the player says."
