Federico Chiesa 'didn't feel ready' for Italy return as coach Gennaro Gattuso reveals talks with struggling Liverpool forward

The 27-year-old Italian forward Chiesa’s Italy comeback has been delayed once again and despite renewed optimism after his move to Liverpool and a match-winning goal against Bournemouth in the 88th minute, the forward was left out of Gennaro Gattuso’s first Italy squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel.

At his first press conference as Azzurri coach at Coverciano, Gattuso revealed that he spoke directly with Chiesa, and together they agreed the winger wasn’t ready to return. Instead, the Italy international will remain in Liverpool to continue working on fitness and consistency after over a year without an Italy appearance.

Gattuso explained the decision with characteristic frankness, telling reporters: "I spoke with Fede, it was a shared decision. He didn’t feel ready to return, he wants to be 100%. We decided it together very calmly."

Chiesa’s exclusion highlights Italy’s continued reliance on balancing form, fitness, and tactical fit. He was one of the few bright sparks at Euro 2020, but since then injuries and inconsistency have stunted his international career.

His absence contrasts sharply with the inclusion of Giacomo Raspadori, who has also had limited playing time since joining Atletico Madrid in the summer but was still called up. For Gattuso, the tactical nuance mattered more than game time as he sees Raspadori as a different profile capable of offering flexibility in the attack. 

"It’s difficult to find players with similar characteristics, and Raspadori can give me something different,” the Italian boss said.

For Chiesa, the focus now turns to Liverpool, with 19 of Arne Slot’s first-team players away on international duty, the winger has a rare two-week window to build fitness and sharpen form at Kirkby.

For Italy, the question is whether Gattuso can navigate qualifying without one of the nation’s most talented attackers. The Azzurri boss is clearly prioritising patience with Chiesa rather than rushing him back, but fans would certainly hope the winger returns in time for the more decisive fixtures later in the campaign. Italy will play against Estonia on September 5 and Israel on September 8.