Capello: “Acerbi’s refusal of the national team is a disgrace!”

Another sensational event in Italian football: famous expert Fabio Capello has harshly criticized Inter defender Francesco Acerbi’s decision to refuse to play for the Italian national team. Unfortunately, recently such cases have prevented stability in the Italian national team and caused major discussion in the football community.

It is known that the 37-year-old Acerbi was invited for the June matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova, but the defender did not want to join the national team. According to reports, this decision was also one of the reasons for the resignation of former Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti.

According to Acerbi, he is not looking for excuses, but demands professional respect. The footballer said:
“I am not part of the coach’s ideas. This is not the frustration that appeared after the defeat in the Champions League final,” he emphasized.

Former head coach Luciano Spalletti also expressed his opinion, asking Acerbi to explain when and where he showed disrespect. “I will say what I think about his respect for me and the team,” Spalletti replied.

Fabio Capello openly criticized Acerbi’s decision and called it a real disgrace:
“A player’s refusal to play for his country is a disgrace. In such a situation, the team loses spirit, motivation, and patriotism,” he said.

Capello also spoke about the risk that Italy may not qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row. According to him, this situation would be a strong blow to the values of Italian football. The expert hopes that the new coach Gennaro Gattuso can bring a new spirit and winning mood to the team.

It should be noted that in recent years, the Italian national team especially needs clear leaders and players with strong character. Fans hope that under new coach Gattuso, the team can restore its traditional strong character.

In conclusion: the conflict between Francesco Acerbi and Spalletti, Fabio Capello’s sharp criticism, and the future of the national team are arousing great interest in Italian football. The upcoming qualifiers, the new coach’s psychological influence, and the internal team atmosphere will have a decisive impact on future results. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!