Gattuso and Buffon send clear message to Italy players amid ignored Arsenal request

La Repubblica newspaper reports that Gennaro Gattuso and Gianluigi Buffon have urged Italy players to prioritise the national team and World Cup qualification even if not fully fit, which is why Riccardo Calafiori still joined the Azzurri despite a hip problem.

Italian players’ priority must be the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, coach Gattuso and Delegation Chief Buffon told footballers at Coverciano, according to La Repubblica.

The Azzurri have not qualified for the last two editions of the World Cup and will likely need to go through the playoffs in March to book a ticket for the USA, Mexico and Canada next year.

Repubblica claims that Buffon and Gattuso have sent a ‘clear message’ to the players, asking them to ‘make it clear to their clubs that their priority is to go to America’ next summer.

Gattuso and Buffon stressed that qualification for the World Cup must be a priority for ‘the players, the entire movement, the fans, and ultimately for the clubs as well.’

The pair explained that, when they were footballers, club directors like Luciano Moggi and Adriano Galliani often pushed for players to be rested during international breaks, but their requests were ignored as rejecting a national team call-up was unthinkable back then.

During Luciano Spalletti’s spell, players who were not fully fit would always remain with their clubs to regain full fitness, but the trend has changed now as Gattuso expects players to go to Coverciano if called up, regardless of their physical condition.

This is why Gianluca Scamacca and Sandro Tonali were still called up in September, while Nicolò Barella joined the national team from day one during the November break, despite being banned for tomorrow’s game against Moldova.

Likewise, Arsenal defender Calafiori flew to Italy despite the Gunners’ desire to keep the ex-Bologna star in London to recover from a hip problem, which will even force him to the sidelines against Moldova on Thursday.