Not even Liverpool has explained why Federico left Gattuso’s training camp. But the coach’s words suggest the issues lie elsewhere
From our correspondent

“Players’ minds aren’t all the same.” Gennaro Gattuso was deliberately vague in explaining why Federico Chiesa showed up at Coverciano to answer Italy’s call-up ahead of the World Cup playoff and then returned home, in agreement with the medical staff and the coach. Nothing more than a terse statement from the federation on the situation, also relayed by Liverpool. Nothing more than the coach’s deliberately vague explanations, as he inevitably prefers to focus on the players he has and Thursday’s match against Northern Ireland—the first of two that could potentially bring the national team back to the World Cup. That is Gattuso’s mission, the only one that matters right now. It should have been Chiesa’s mission as well, in his first appearance in the Azzurri jersey since Euro 2024, but the Liverpool forward’s journey hasn’t even begun.

Not even Liverpool has explained Federico’s departure from Gattuso’s training camp. But the coach’s words suggest the issues lie elsewhere
From our correspondent
 
Davide Chinellato
March 24, 2026 (updated March 25, 2026 | 11:05 a.m.) – LONDON
“Players’ minds aren’t all the same.” Gennaro Gattuso was deliberately vague in explaining why Federico Chiesa reported to Coverciano to answer Italy’s call-up for the World Cup playoff and then returned home, in agreement with the medical staff and the coach. Nothing more than a terse statement from the federation on the situation, also relayed by Liverpool. Nothing more than the coach’s deliberately vague explanations, as he inevitably prefers to focus on the players he has and Thursday’s match against Northern Ireland—the first of two that could potentially bring the national team back to the World Cup. That is Gattuso’s mission, the only one that matters right now. It should have been Chiesa’s mission as well, in his first appearance in the Azzurri jersey since Euro 2024, but the Liverpool forward’s journey hasn’t even begun.

italia—  Expectations for his return to the Azzurri were different. Chiesa needed to be assessed for his fitness, given his limited playing time (only once playing more than 20 minutes in the last two months), but his class and experience were supposed to be a plus for the team. And his commitment, the desire to take on the world that he shows every time he steps onto the field for Liverpool—whether it’s for 20 minutes or stoppage time—is an asset for Gattuso and for Italy. On Monday morning, however, the medical staff issued a statement announcing the decision—made by mutual agreement—to send the player home. Then came Gattuso’s explanation: “Chiesa showed up, but he was having issues, and we decided it was pointless for him to stay,” the coach said at a press conference. “Why didn’t he stay? Players’ minds aren’t all the same, and if one is hesitant, I have to make choices. I can convince him for a while, but if someone isn’t feeling well, you can’t push too hard. I repeat, we decided together: he wasn’t 100% and wanted to go home, and it’s right that he did.” In other words, case closed—at least for now. The fact that Chiesa accepted the call-up suggests he doesn’t consider his adventure with the national team over. The fact that he changed his mind—that “players’ minds aren’t all the same”—makes it clear that the issues lie elsewhere. Issues that only Chiesa can clarify. For now, he too will be sitting in front of the TV at home on Thursday cheering for Italy, hoping that the match against Northern Ireland becomes the first step toward a return to the World Cup.