Andrea Pirlo’s expected appointment as Italy’s new head coach just blew Federico Chiesa’s international future wide open, putting his controversial past with the Azzurri right back under the microscope. This isn’t just a coaching change, it’s a potential seismic shift for Italy, and Chiesa’s name is already ringing loud across the football world.
The 25-Goal Season Pirlo Remembers
Talk about a reunion! Pirlo and Chiesa? They’ve got history, and it’s good history for Italy fans hoping for a comeback. Back in the 2020-21 season, the only one Pirlo coached Juventus, Chiesa was an absolute machine under him. We’re talking 14 goals and 11 assists across 43 appearances, a truly impressive 25 goal contributions for the club. La Gazzetta dello Sport even highlights that these two are on good terms after their time at the Allianz Stadium six years ago. You don’t forget numbers like that, especially when you’re trying to inject some fire back into the national team. Pirlo saw what Chiesa could do when he was firing on all cylinders, and you gotta believe that’s exactly what he expects again.
The Controversial Absence and Gattuso’s Frustration
Here’s where it gets complicated. Despite that impressive output under Pirlo, Chiesa hasn’t worn the Italy shirt since the 2024 Euros. His last game for La Nazionale was that heartbreaking Round of 16 loss to Switzerland, 2-0 in Berlin. What’s even wilder is how many times former Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso tried to get him back in the squad. Gattuso was constantly pushing for Chiesa’s return, even with the winger getting limited playing time for Liverpool. But Chiesa just wasn’t having it. He often felt “not ready” to play for the Azzurri, according to Gattuso himself. Remember the drama in March? Chiesa got called up for World Cup qualifiers, then pulled out before even training with the team. That caused a huge controversy because he missed crucial matches, including the play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The kicker? He was “immediately available for Liverpool” right after that international break. Gattuso himself sounded pretty frustrated, saying in November 2025, “I often talk to him. We have to respect the decisions and problems that each of us has. We know well what we tell each other, and I must respect what the player tells me. I can’t say anything else.” That tells you everything you need to know about the friction there.
With Pirlo stepping in, the whispers are getting loud at Coverciano. Is Chiesa finally ready to commit to the national team? Or will we see the same old story, another chapter in a frustrating saga? All eyes are on this new era. It’s time to see if Pirlo can reignite that spark and finally bring the Liverpool winger back into the Azzurri fold for good.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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