Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa declined Italy call-up – Gennaro Gattuso

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa turned down a call up to Italy’s squad for their November World Cup qualifiers, head coach Gennaro Gattuso has said.

Italy conclude their World Cup group qualification campaign with an away game in Moldova and home match against group leaders leaders Norway, who are three points clear with a significant goal difference advantage going into the final week.

The 28-year-old has not featured for Italy since his 2024 summer transfer to Liverpool from Juventus, with injuries and a lack of playing time at club level hampering his progress.

“I often talk to him. We have to respect the decisions and problems that each of us has,” Gattuso said of Chiesa on Monday, as cited by Reuters.

“We know well what we tell each other, and I must respect what the player tells me. I can’t say anything else.”

Chiesa, whose only two starts for Liverpool this season have come in Carabao Cup matches, was omitted from Gattuso’s squad for October’s qualifiers against Estonia and Israel.

At the time, the Italy coach said that was a “joint decision” made between him and the player, who “wanted to be at 100 per cent” before making a first return to the international fold in over a year.

The former Fiorentina forward featured just 14 times across all competitions last campaign for Liverpool, and was initially omitted from Arne Slot’s squad for this season’s Champions League, before being added following a long-term injury to team-mate Giovanni Leoni.

Norway, who host Estonia prior to their final group game in Italy, hold a 16-goal advantage over Gattuso’s side as they seek to clinch their first World Cup appearance since 1998.