Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has given an explanation for why Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and defender Francesco Acerbi aren’t in the Azzurri squad.
The coach noted that the pair are absent for entirely separate reasons while speaking in a press conference, as reported by FCInterNews.
Over the last couple of years, there has been a real core of Inter players at the heart of the Italy national team.
Azzurri coach Spalletti acknowledged the fact that he is building around a “block” of Nerazzurri players.
At the Euros this summer, all of Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, and Matteo Darmian were part of the Italy squad.
Acerbi, on the other hand, was not, as he was recovering from surgery. However, the former Lazio and Sassuolo had previously been a regular starter for the national team.
For the international break just begun, though, it’s a bit of a different story.
There is still plenty of Inter representation in the Azzurri squad.
All of Bastoni, Dimarco, and Frattesi received call-ups.
But none of Barella, Acerbi, or Darmian are among the players who Spalletti went with for upcoming Nations League fixtures against the likes of France and Israel.
Spalletti Explains Why Barella & Acerbi Left Out Of Italy Squad
In the case of Barella, the reason for the 27-year-old’s absence is that he just underwent a nose operation.
The procedure was to make the player’s breathing more comfortable.
Inter and Barella scheduled Barella’s surgery for the start of the break. This was in coordination with the national team medical staff, as Spalletti explains.
“I’m waiting for Barella to be available for the next call-up,” said Spalletti.
“I spoke with Inter’s team doctor Piero Volpi. But usually, it’s out medical staff who talk about these things, and they had the issue explained to them well.”
“They understood why there was a need for this surgery, and planned it for this international break,” Spalletti said.
“I have total faith in the player,” the Italy coach said of Barella.
“He’s had some breathing difficulties. So it’s great to address them so that he’s in a position to show his best.”
Meanwhile, Spalletti also gave an explanation for why defender Acerbi, as well as other veteran players like Darmian and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho are not part of Italy’s squad for the break.
“It would be easy to take Acerbi as part of the squad,” said the Italy coach.
“His performances are certain.”
“But we have a competition to play in two years, and we have to bring new blood in,” Spalletti made clear.
“For a player who’s 27, 28, thirty, you know what to expect from them,” the Azzurri coach went on.
“But a 20-22 player can change completely if you put your trust in him in competitions where he hasn’t played in before.”
Spalletti made clear that as far as experienced players like Acerbi, “The door is never closed to anyone.”
“But clearly, I want to have these younger guys to put to the test. And then we’ll evaluate the results that they show us.”
