Inter and Italy defender Francesco Acerbi has explained why he has decided to not accept a call-up to join the national team for World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova coming up in June, revealing that he feels he is ‘not part of the CT’s project’.
Acerbi, 37, had been included in Spalletti’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova on June 6 and June 9, but the CT confirmed on Sunday that the Inter centre-back has not accepted the invitation to join the national team.
Acerbi insists that his decision to not join the Italy squad is not as a direct result of Inter’s 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday, rather that he does not see eye to eye with head coach Spalletti.
Click here to ready everything Spalletti said from his press conference at Coverciano on Sunday.
Acerbi: ‘I won’t stay somewhere I’m no longer really wanted’
Acerbi has hinted that there is a lack of respect from those who ‘lead the group’ amidst suggestions that Spalletti did not initially want to include Acerbi in his national team squad.
“After deep consideration, I’ve informed the CT today that I will not accept the call to join the national team. It’s not a choice I took lightly, because wearing the Azzurri shirt has always been an honour and source of pride for me,” Acerbi wrote in a long post on Instagram on Sunday.
“However, in light of recent events, the conditions to continue on this journey do not exist at the moment. I’m not looking for excuses or favours, I demand respect. And if this respect is lacking on the part of those who should lead the group, then I prefer to step aside.”
He continued: “I’m not one to hold onto a convocation. I’ve always given everything, but I won’t stay where I’m no longer really wanted, and it’s clear that I’m not a part of the CT’s project.
“This is my decision, and as I said this morning to the CT, it is not final, nor dictated by anger, nor by the ‘depression’ after losing a Champions League final. It is a need to take a step back.
“I wish the best to the national team, and like my teammates, I will continue to root for them with the same dedication that I have always shown on the pitch.”
his champs league performance was awful. So I agree with the national team coach.
Time to hang them up Acerbi!
Dimarco and Bastoni are worse than him,
The fact Acerbi and Di Marco are held in such high regard baffles me and always has.
Yesterday wasn’t a bad night or an unlucky night they were simply not good enough.
until Serie A starts changing mentality around youngsters we only have heartache to look forward too!
Di Lorenzo and Dimarco are worse than him.
he’s not really a good defender di Marco as well great going forward but suspect showed against psg and in euros last summer so his de Lorenzo tell U wudnt surprise me if Norway win Friday Italy’s defenders are not great donnarumma is best player they have
They all had a bad game vs PSG on that night. They are not a 5-0 bad team, but on that night they were. Make sense of that.