Italy’s new coach, Gennaro Gattuso, shared that Federico Chiesa chose not to join the national team. Chiesa, who plays for Liverpool, scored an important goal in his Premier League debut last month. However, he told Gattuso he wasn’t fully ready to return. “We talked and decided together,” Gattuso said. “Chiesa wants to be at his best before coming back.”
Gattuso spoke to the media during the September international break. Italy will face Estonia and Israel in upcoming matches. He confirmed that team captain Gigio Donnarumma will have medical tests in Florence today. Donnarumma is set to join Manchester City permanently.
Three new players joined the Italy squad for these games: Giovanni Leoni from Liverpool, Francesco Pio Esposito from Inter, and Giovanni Fabbian from Bologna. Gattuso praised their skills. “These young players act like veterans,” he said. “They have strong personalities and real talent.”
Gattuso shared his thoughts on the newcomers. He watched Leoni play against Lukaku last season and was impressed. “Leoni is fast and born in 2006,” Gattuso noted. “Fabbian is like Frattesi. He runs well and has great timing. Pio has strong technique.” He believes all three can add something special to the team.
The coach explained his approach. “I reward players who show boldness,” he said. “Quality matters most, but experience builds readiness. The more they play, the better they get.”
Gattuso will lead Italy for the first time against Estonia on September 5 in Bergamo. The team will then play Israel on September 8 in Debrecen, Hungary, on neutral ground.