Gattuso explains Chiesa absence from latest Italy squad: ‘He does not feel 100%’

Gennaro Gattuso has revealed that Federico Chiesa is not currently feeling ‘at 100%’, and that he wants to get back to his best before making his return to the Italy national team squad. 

Gattuso: Why Chiesa has not been included in latest Italy squad

Chiesa has not played for Italy since the disappointing exit against Switzerland in the EURO 2024 round of 16, but had been tipped for a return to the national team squad for the October World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel. 

After a season of limited opportunities with Liverpool in 2024-25, Chiesa has begun to appear more regularly at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign, scoring his first Premier League goal on the opening weekend of the season. With two goals to his name this term, Chiesa has already matched his seasonal goal tally from 2024-25. 

Italy are also lacking in attacking depth, particularly out wide and in the trequartista roles, even more so after the recent injuries to Matteo Politano and Mattia Zaccagni. 

Despite the fact that Politano and Zaccagni have dropped out of the squad, there has still been no call up for Chiesa. 

Speaking at his press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Italy national team head coach Gattuso explained why he has not called up Chiesa in either of his first two squads. 

“The Chiesa issue is very simple,” Gattuso said. “I talk to my players a lot, and I want to make that clear, a lot. I speak every week with Fede and he knows what I think of him, but I also have to respect what the player tells me. 

“He does not feel at 100 per cent and wants to be at 100 per cent, that is the truth.”