Gattuso meets Italy players across the globe ahead of World Cup play-off | OneFootball

Denied a training retreat this month, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has taken his World Cup preparations on the road, visiting players in Saudi Arabia, London and Milan ahead of March’s play-off.

Italy coach Gattuso has been visiting the players he is considering calling up for March’s World Cup play-offs.

Italy’s World Cup play-off opponent

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Players of Italy during the National Anthem during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

The Azzurri will host Northern Ireland in Bergamo in the semis on March 26, and if they progress, they’ll visit Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Final.

The congested fixture list has made it impossible for the FIGC and Lega Serie A to find a two-day window for the Azzurri to train at Coverciano this month. This means Gattuso will reunite with his players four months after their last competitive match, lost 4-1 at home against Norway in November.

Therefore, Gattuso has opted to meet his players face to face, travelling around the world and catching up with them over dinner.

According to Gazzetta, Gattuso has already met with Mateo Retegui in Saudi Arabia, Marco Verratti in Qatar and many Italian players in the Premier League: Riccardo Calafiori, Federico Chiesa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Michael Kayode, Nicolò Savona, Sandro Tonali, Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy looks on prior to the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Gazzetta highlights that Gattuso has meticulously planned for these meetings, ensuring they would not disrupt the clubs’ weekly work or compromise the players’ rest.

Last night, he had dinner in Milan with Juventus, Inter, Milan, Bologna and Fiorentina players who could be part of the Azzurri team next month.

Within Friday, depending on the commitments of each team, he’ll go to Bergamo, Rome and Naples to meet the others.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy during the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Next Monday, he’ll sit down with Cagliari’s Elia Caprile and Marco Palestra after attending the match between the Rossoblu and Lecce.