Liverpool Star Faces Growing Concerns as International Snubs Continue to Mount

Italian national team coach Gennaro Gattuso has revealed that Liverpool's Federico Chiesa has once more declined inclusion in his recent squad selection, acknowledging there are "issues that we all face individually."

Chiesa hasn't featured for Italy since June 2024 following an extended injury struggle, though he has remained in Gattuso's thoughts since the former midfielder took charge this summer.

Back in September, Gattuso disclosed that Chiesa had turned down national team duty because he "needed to reach full fitness," and identical reasoning was given in October when the winger again chose to focus on his physical preparation instead.

Chiesa received another invitation to join Gattuso's current international squad but, as before, declined the opportunity to participate.

"I speak with him regularly," Gattuso stated. "We must honor the choices and challenges that we each encounter.

"We understand our conversations well, and I have to respect the player's position. There's nothing more I can add."

When pressed to confirm whether Chiesa made this choice independently, Gattuso responded: "Absolutely, this marks the fourth or fifth occasion I've addressed this matter."

Physical setbacks significantly hampered Chiesa throughout his debut Liverpool campaign last season. The ex-Juventus player secured only one Premier League starting position in the second-to-last match week and accumulated under 500 minutes total across all tournaments.

Despite appearing merely six times in the 2024–25 Premier League season, Chiesa has already made eight competitive appearances this term. He's recorded two goals plus one assist, though he's yet to exceed 30 minutes in any single league match.

Developing his physical condition continues as Chiesa's primary focus, particularly as he's anticipated to assume greater responsibilities at Liverpool during the upcoming period when Egyptian star Mohamed Salah leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations.