Marco Verratti has begged fans ‘not to insult’ Italy players who missed out on World Cup qualification, ‘especially the younger’ members of the squad.
The Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing 1-0 to North Macedonia on Thursday evening in the play-offs semi-final.
They will now play a friendly away to Turkey, the other side that lost the play-offs to Portugal 3-1, a game that neither nation will want to participate in.
Verratti won’t be making the trip, as he was released early for a return to PSG, followed out of the Coverciano training camp by Jorginho, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Domenico Berardi and Gianluca Mancini.
“When you win, it’s easy to thank everyone,” wrote Verratti on Instagram.
“I want to do it today after an elimination that will deny us the most wonderful and exciting competition for us players, but above all for all the Italian fans around the world.
“I want to thank everyone, staff, players and all those who work with passion and enthusiasm around the Nazionale.
“Unfortunately, in life and in football, it doesn’t always go the way your expectations, objectives and dreams had planned it.
“The disappointment is immense, but we already showed that with work, passion and heart, anything is possible. So in life or in football, just like after a great victory last summer or a huge defeat, we must continue fighting.
“Football is our passion and I am sure we’ll continue to give our all to earn more satisfying moments together.”
Italy were crowned Champions of Europe only eight months ago and set a new world unbeaten record, but despite only four defeats in Roberto Mancini’s tenure, fans and media have turned on the Azzurri rapidly.
“One last thing: I don’t think the best way to deal with this is to insult everyone, because each of us tried to give our all (unfortunately it wasn’t enough).
“Above all please leave the younger players alone (if you really want to, insult us ‘older’ guys, because sometimes you forget we are just people like you, normal folks, and that we too feel the biggest emotions in the smallest things).”