Inter's Acerbi withdraws from Italy squad citing lack of respect
Soccer Football - Champions League - Final - Paris St Germain v Inter Milan - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 31, 2025 Inter Milan's Francesco Acerbi looks dejected after Desire Doue scores Paris St Germain's third goal REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
MUNICH, Germany - Inter Milan's veteran defender Francesco Acerbi withdrew from the Italy squad on Sunday, the day after his club's humbling defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, citing a lack of respect from manager Luciano Spalletti.
Acerbi has not played for Italy since November 2023, but after his recent exploits with Inter - where he scored an equaliser in their semi-final with Barcelona - Spalletti named him in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The 37-year-old's announcement comes immediately following Inter's 5-0 loss in Munich on Saturday, but Acerbi, who spoke with Spalletti on Sunday morning, said this had nothing to do with his decision.
"I felt that, in light of recent events, the conditions to continue this path peacefully do not exist today," Acerbi said in a social media post.
"I don't seek alibis or favours, I demand respect. And if this respect is lacking on the part of those who should lead a group, then I prefer to step aside.
"I've always given everything, but I don't stay where I'm no longer really wanted and it's clear that I'm not part of the manager's project."
Acerbi did not clarify what this lack of respect referred to. Earlier, Spalletti spoke about the player's decision at a press conference on Sunday, before Acerbi's statement.
"For me Acerbi has value, we knew he had some physical problems, he had been operated on, I had given space at the time to other defenders too," the coach said.
In March, after Italy exited the Nations League at the quarter-final stage to Germany, when Spalletti was asked by a reporter if he would consider calling up Acerbi, the manager responded with a question of his own.
"Do you know how old Acerbi is?" Spalletti asked.
Italy begin their World Cup Group I qualifying campaign away to Norway on June 6, before hosting Moldova three days later, having failed to reach the last two tournaments. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Djokovic turns to drop shot magic in testing French Open win
PARIS - Novak Djokovic hit a barrage of drop shots to beat Alexander Zverev for a place in the French Open semi-finals on Wednesday and the Serbian said his hand was forced by windy conditions that left him feeling like he had two opponents. Djokovic produced 35 of the delicate best from his racket in a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 win, his 101st victory at Roland Garros, which kept his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title alive and earned him a semi-final with top seed Jannik Sinner. "Against the wind, especially that side where I was playing the last game, I felt the wind increased in the last few games," Djokovic told reporters. "It was almost playing against two players. I feel the ball isn't going anywhere you're hitting it. People don't see that on the TV, but on the court, you can feel it a lot. "I was just trying to mix it up. At one point, I felt like I couldn't go through him, so I tried to bring him to the net and risk it with the drop shot, serve and volley. It had to be done. "I was tense, to finish off the match, and he was playing consistent from the back of the court in the last game, wasn't making errors and was making me work." Djokovic arrived in Paris having won his 100th tour-level title in Geneva to open his account in an otherwise lacklustre year where he crashed out early in several big tournaments. He said in Madrid that he was coming to terms with a "new reality" in tennis of trying to win a match or two. "That wasn't a great feeling, but it's something I haven't experienced for many years, 20 years I've been playing. That's why I said I have to try to find a way to bounce back at the Grand Slams," he added. "It's no secret it's been like that for years but especially now it's all about Grand Slams for me, trying to raise the level and play my best tennis at these four tournaments. This is what I've been managing to do. "The win against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, the win in the quarter-finals tonight against Zverev proves to myself and others that I can still play on the highest level, and I just thrive on these occasions. "This is where I lock in and really give my best. So I just hope that I'll be able to physically keep up with Sinner in few days' time. It's a big challenge for me." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Djokovic is underrated and still up there with the best says beaten Zverev
Djokovic is underrated and still up there with the best says beaten Zverev PARIS - Three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic is underrated at the age of 38 despite continuing to deliver world class performances, said Germany's Alexander Zverev after his quarter-final loss to the Serbian on Wednesday. The 28-year-old, a finalist last year, was attempting to become only the fourth man in the Open era to reach the French Open semi-finals in five consecutive years, after Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Instead he bowed out of the tournament, having lost in four sets to Djokovic, who will play Italian world number one Jannik Sinner for a spot in Sunday's final. "I think it was very, very high level from him," Zverev told a press conference. "It was at some point difficult for me." "I, at some point, felt like I didn't know how to win a point from the baseline against him. I thought he was having solutions to a lot of things that I was doing." Djokovic unusually played 35 drop shots in the game, forcing Zverev constantly to the net and mixing up his game to stop the German from pounding him from the baseline. "I think at the moment he's a bit underrated, to be honest," Zverev said of the 38-year-old. "I think like a lot of people count him out already, but this year he's had wins over Carlos (Alcaraz) at the Australian Open, he has had a win over me at the French Open." "Forget the age. I think for any player, those are pretty good results. He is still beating the best of the best, so I think everybody needs to respect that." Former world number one Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 Grand Slam singles trophies. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Brazil need to get the best out of Vinicius Jr, says Ancelotti
Brazil need to get the best out of Vinicius Jr, says Ancelotti Brazil must help striker Vinicius Jr rediscover the form he has displayed at Real Madrid, new national team coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Wednesday. Ancelotti, who guided the Spanish giants to several titles alongside the Brazilian forward, including two Champions League triumphs and two LaLiga crowns, said that his unique ability to unsettle opposing defences made him a vital asset. 'I don't know if he's been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid,' Ancelotti told reporters ahead of Brazil's World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on Thursday — his first match in charge of the national team. 'For us, he's a fundamental player. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best here,' the manager added. Vinicius made his World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022 and has been a regular during their qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament. However, he has struggled for form with the national team, falling short of his usual standards at Real Madrid. Regarding his tactical approach, Ancelotti stated that he aims to field a compact, balanced team. "I don't want a team with a clear identity. We have to defend well, whether it's 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We have to defend together and use creativity with the ball,' he said. "Individual quality is not enough today; you have to combine it with attitude, drive and commitment.' He didn't reveal his starting line-up for his debut as coach, but he did have words of praise for 18-year-old Estevao, who is leaving Palmeiras for Chelsea and has been tipped for a bright future with the national team. "He's got a special talent... he's got character, he's a good person, he's humble, and he seems fine to me, but with a young player we have to be patient and careful. He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team," the coach said. Brazil are fourth in the standings for the South American World Cup qualifiers, while their opponents Ecuador are second, behind world champions Argentina. The top six qualify directly for the World Cup. They will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo next week and could secure an early spot at next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
