Francesco Acerbi rejects Italy, Spalletti: "He told me via text message"
Italian national team head coach Luciano Spalletti has announced that Inter defender Francesco Acerbi has decided not to answer the Italian coach’s call-up for the first two 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Norway and Moldova.
“Acerbi did not respond to the call-up. He thought back to what happened around him. I had summoned him because of what he had shown during this period. It’s true that at the end of the championship we all come to it with bated breath, making these summonses was not easy but we have to put together so many of those things …”.
“The joke about Acerbi’s date of birth? There’s an intention to believe in up-and-coming players. For me Acerbi has value, we knew he had had physical problems, he had had surgery, I had given space in his time to other defenders as well. However, we take note of his decision. If he will be replaced? Let”s see, the news is fresh, we will evaluate calmly and calmly. For the moment no”.
No physical problems for the Inter defender, who is back from the Champions League final: “This morning by text message he told me no. I answered him. Then we talked on the phone, and rushed to train because whoever is there deserves attention”.
