Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has confirmed that forward Federico Chiesa has turned down the opportunity to join the national team for their upcoming international fixtures. The Juventus star, who has been in mixed form this season, reportedly chose to sit out the matches due to personal reasons.
Speaking to the media, Gattuso made it clear that the decision was entirely Chiesa’s and that the national team management respects his choice. “I speak often with Chiesa, we simply need to respect the decision each one of us makes and the issues we have,” the Italy coach said. “There’s nothing else for me to say, this is the truth.”
Chiesa’s decision comes at a crucial time for Italy, who are preparing for a key set of fixtures as they look to fine-tune their squad ahead of next year’s major tournaments. His absence will be felt, given his pace, directness, and experience at the international level, having been a standout performer during Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph.
The 27-year-old winger has endured a challenging period with Juventus, dealing with inconsistent playing time and fitness concerns in recent months. While no official statement has been released by Chiesa or his club, reports suggest that the player prefers to use the international break to rest and focus on regaining full fitness.
