Francesco Acerbi has made a surprising decision to withdraw from Italy’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, citing a lack of respect. This announcement comes hot on the heels of Inter’s devastating 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Acerbi, who played a key role in that final match, has not featured for the national team since November 2023. However, his impressive performances for Inter towards the end of the season earned him a recall to Luciano Spalletti’s squad. Despite this, Acerbi took to social media to announce his decision to step back from international duty.
In his statement, Acerbi expressed his disappointment at the lack of respect he felt from those in charge. He emphasized that wearing the blue shirt had always been an honor for him, but recent events had made it impossible for him to continue peacefully. The defender made it clear that he demanded respect and would not stay where he no longer felt wanted.
Italy, who are aiming to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, will kick off their qualifying campaign against Norway on June 6. Spalletti is determined to start their journey on a positive note after their disappointing exit from the Nations League quarter-finals.
The Italian coach stressed the importance of securing qualification for the World Cup and highlighted the team’s potential for success. With everything on the line in their upcoming matches, Italy will need to bring their A-game to secure their spot in the tournament.
