Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi has said it is up to Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso whether he is called back up to the national team but added “If he doesn’t want me, it’s not a problem.”
Acerbi spoke to Mediaset, with quotes via FCInterNews, ahead of Inter’s Serie A clash with Sassuolo on Sunday.
The defender discussed several topics, including alcohol, his struggle with cancer and whether or not he’ll play for Italy again.
On using alcohol to cope, Acerbi said “I was not an alcoholic but I abused it in the sense that I liked having fun and football took a back seat.
“I wasn’t depressed,” he continued, “but I wanted to quit because I couldn’t handle it anymore.”
“I could no longer give what I wanted and I had other things on my mind, so I started going out at night,” he said.
“That whole period lasted until the second illness.”
Inter Milan Star Acerbi On Battle With Cancer & Italy Return
Whilst he played for Sassuolo, Acerbi was diagnosed with cancer – which returned after initially going into remission.
On his illness, the Italian said “I took the news quite badly, I had no symptoms and from blood tests they reassured me it was something minor.”
Acerbi continued, “They removed a testicle, telling me that I would be back on the pitch after a month.
“After a few months, there was a relapse,” he added, “I wasn’t expecting that and I started chemotherapy in the January.
“Once the season ended I recovered,” Acerbi said, “Even praying came naturally. At that point, I thought of my wife, my children and my father.”
Francesco Acerbi Leaves Door Open For Azzurri Comeback
The centre-back has not played for Italy since 2023 and had a falling out with ex-Azzurri head coach Luciano Spalletti.
Acerbi rejected a call-up to face Norway and Moldova in the summer.
“I only ever turned down a call-up against Norway,” Acerbi said.
“Because it wouldn’t have been right after all the events that had happened.”
“Spalletti didn’t call me up for a year but I am available.”
Finally, he did not close the door on a return to the national team.
Instead, he left it up to new head coach Gattuso to decide.
“The coach decides the players he wants or doesn’t want,” the Inter star said.
“If Gattuso doesn’t want me, that’s not a problem,” he concluded.
everyone thinks he’s done just like mhiki, but those who can see it know he’s still got something left to give. the only thing that would make him look bad this season at inter that they are no longer playing with stupid regista that’s slowing the game too much, that means he needs to use more stamina to defend the goal