Juventus midfielder ‘not happy’ with Italy snub

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Lorenzo Bettoni | Last updated Mar 15, 2025 7:25 AM ET

Juventus coach Thiago Motta admits Manuel Locatelli was ‘eager to play’ with the Italy national team, so he’s not happy with not being called up, but he ‘accepts’ Luciano Spalletti’s decision.

Spalletti has named his 25-man squad list for Nations League games against Germany, omitting Juventus midfielder Locatelli.

“He has a great sense of responsibility and is very eager to play for the national team,” Motta said at a press conference on Saturday, replying to a question on Locatelli’s reaction.

“On one hand, he respects the coach’s decision because he’s a great professional. On the other hand, he will use this week to train, recover, and spend time with his family. We’ve gone through a period with many matches, and the players have had little time to recover. He’s not happy, but he accepts the decision.”

Click here to read every word from Thiago Motta during a pre-match press conference on the eve of a Serie A match against Fiorentina.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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