Head coach jets in for SHOWDOWN talks with Federico Chiesa | OneFootball

Gattuso gets Chiesa talks

With little prospect of a major breakthrough under Arne Slot Chiesa will be well aware that his involvement with Italy’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs will be in jeopardy.

Although the versatile forward has excluded himself from the Azzurri squad for almost two years it’s believed he wants to rejoin the team ahead of their expected qualification to the World Cup.

And he is very much in the thoughts for head coach Gennaro Gattuso - who was reported to have jetted into London over the weekend in order to speak with his squad members.

Chiesa could return to Italy squad

Premier League-based talents including Nicolo Savona, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Riccardo Calafiori, Diego Coppola, Michael Kayode, Sandro Tonali, Destiny Udogie and Guigliermo Vicardo were all reported to have been invited according to La Stampa.

But the biggest intrigue surrounded the presence of Chiesa - with Gattuso determined to have him on board.

“The most anticipated meeting will be with Chiesa, who has always asked the coach for time before returning to the national team and could now wear the Azzurri after a nearly two-year absence,” the report reads.

“Gattuso wants to involve everyone: he does so by maintaining constant contact over the phone, but now he's spending time with them at dinners to bring a piece of Coverciano directly to his players.

“Leoni and Gnonto, however, are unable to attend.”

Chiesa has got a lot of soul-searching to do in the days ahead.