As international football teams from Europe carry out their penultimate preparations for the 2026 World Cup in north America, Federico Chiesa will not be linking up with Gennaro Gattuso's Italy over the November break. A potential reason why the Liverpool forward has refused the chance to add more caps to his record has emerged.
Yet again, it's been another tricky season for the ex-Juventus and Fiorentina man, who moved to Anfield in the summer of 2024 for a lowly fee. Under Arne Slot, he's managed to pick up just 344 minutes of action across all competitions and, in that time, he's plundered five goal involvements – two goals and three assists.
A Liverpool fan favourite for how tirelessly he works when he gets the odd chance to shine, Chiesa is also a seasoned international for Gli Azzurri. The 28-year-old earned his international stripes in 2018 in a 2-0 loss to Argentina as he played 62 minutes on the ring wing; since, he's gone on to rack up an additional 50 caps.
Federico Chiesa – Club Career
Club
ACF Fiorentina
Juventus
Fiorentina Primavera
Liverpool
Why Chiesa Has Refused International Call-Up from Gattuso
fede chiesa
Despite how integral Chiesa has been to his nation's prospects, as evidenced by his prominence at Euro 2020, he will not be appearing over the November international break. Instead, it's likely that he will remain on the red half of Merseyside while Italy face Moldova and table-toppers Norway in pursuit of a spot at next summer's showpiece.
Italy are yet to qualify for the 2026 World Cup – and they will have to do so without the brilliance of Chiesa, who last played for his nation in June 2024 in a 2-0 loss to Switzerland.
From a club perspective, the fleet-footed attacker has played 26 times for Liverpool since arriving midway through 2024 – but injuries have marred his chance to cement himself as a regular on the flank. As a result, he's largely been reduced to cameos from the bench, but he still managed to get a call-up to the Italian national team. But why did he refuse the chance to extend his international legacy?
Chiesa
Gattuso, in his pre-match press conference at Coverciano, revealed that Genova-born Chiesa – a one-time winner of the Italian footballer of the year accolade in 2021 – has turned down his offer to play for his country once again. Per Football Italia, the boss said:
"I often talk to him. We have to respect the decisions and problems that each of us has. We know well what we tell each other, and I must respect what the player tells me. I can’t say anything else."
Pressed by reporters, who were trying to decipher whether it was Gattuso or Chiesa that came to said decision, the former suggested that it was not the first time the latter had refused to be called up to the national team. "Yes, it's already the fourth or fifth time that I'm explaining this," the midfielder-turned-manager said.
In October, when Chiesa was once again not in the Italy squad, Gattuso revealed that his omission was due to the fact that he was not feeling '100%'. He suggested they are in constant communication over a potential international return for the versatile forward – but he's not willing to rush back when he's not fully fit and firing.
"The Chiesa issue is very simple. 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% and wants to be at 100%; that is the truth.”
Although Chiesa will miss out on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Norway, it gives him ample time to get up to scratch. Fixtures continue to come thick and fast for the Reds: upon their return, they play host to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven before travelling down to the English capital to face West Ham United.
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 11/11/2025