Gennaro Gattuso Dismisses Federico Chiesa From Italy Squad Amid Psychological Concerns and World Cup Pressure

Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso explains Federico Chiesa's exit, citing a lack of the right "frame of mind" ahead of crucial World Cup play-off matches.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 6:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365

The Abrupt End to a Long Awaited Return

Federico Chiesa’s return to the Italian national setup, his first call-up in nearly two years, lasted only a matter of minutes before the player was officially released from the squad. The former Euro 2020 star had previously requested to be excluded from international selection following a difficult transition to Liverpool, where he has managed only two Premier League starts since his summer 2024 arrival. Despite being summoned by Gennaro Gattuso for the critical World Cup play-offs, medical checks and a subsequent agreement with his club resulted in an immediate exit from the Florence training camp.

A Deviation from Gattuso’s Unity Policy

The decision to send Chiesa home stands in stark contrast to Gattuso’s established policy of keeping unavailable players within the camp to foster collective spirit. Since succeeding Luciano Spalletti in June, the manager has insisted that injured stars like Sandro Tonali and Gianluca Scamacca remain with the team. When questioned on this inconsistency, Gattuso noted that not every athlete possesses the same "frame of mind," suggesting that when a player begins to waver emotionally or psychologically regarding their contribution, a definitive choice must be made to protect the group dynamic.

The Weight of a Sixteen Year Drought

The atmosphere surrounding the Italian camp is characterized by what Gattuso described as undeniable "nervousness" as the nation faces the prospect of missing a third consecutive World Cup. Following two defeats to Norway in the qualifying rounds, the Azzurri must now secure a victory over Northern Ireland in Bergamo before facing either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina. The manager has urged his players to forget the nation’s historical accolades, including four World Cup titles and two European Championships, to focus entirely on the immediate necessity of reaching the tournament in North America.