Luciano Spalletti responds after Francesco Acerbi turns down Italy call-up | OneFootball

Italy boss Luciano Spalletti clarified a situation which could have turned into a controversy regarding Inter man Francesco Acerbi’s withdrawal from the national team squad.

Speaking to the press via La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luciano Spalletti explained Acerbi’s withdrawal from the Italy National Team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The Italian manager claimed that Acerbi sent him a message turning down the international call-up yesterday evening, as he accepted the player’s request. Spalletti said: “Acerbi didn’t respond to the call-up. Physical issue? No. He thought about what happened around him. We take note and move on”

The coach was quick to ascertain that the Inter defender did not sustain any injuries and his decision not to feature in the qualifiers against Norway and Moldova comes from a personal area.

The 37-year-old played a crucial role in keeping the Nerazzurri defence intact in the Serie A and the Champions League. Albeit Inter failed to lift the prestigious European title last night, Acerbi won hearts during the competition, especially when he equalised the scores against Barcelona when all seemed over for his side.

Acerbi’s age and the stressful times he had to undergo with Inter this past season could be one of the reasons behind his decline of the Italy call up.

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN