“The lack of respect” is behind the refusal of Atharbi to join the Italian national team

Veteran defender Franchisco Aterby revealed the reason for his refusal to join the Italian team for his matches against Norway and Moldavia in the World Cup qualifiers 2026, saying that “I am not part of the technical staff project” for the world champions four times.
The 37-year-old was called by coach Lucehano Spalletti to the squad for the first time since March for the two matches scheduled for the sixth and ninth of this month in Oslo and Rego Emilia (north of the country), but after losing and his team Inter final the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain 0-5 Saturday, he announced that he would not join the “Izori” camp.
Atharbi stressed that his decision is not related to the historical defeat that Inter received Saturday in Munich, but rather that he is not on an agreement with coach Spalletti, speaking about the lack of respect towards him from those who “lead the group”, that is, the team.
Atharbi suggested that Spalletti refused at first his summons to the squad, but those around him in the technical committee convinced him of this, adding in a lengthy post on Instagram on Sunday, “After a deep thinking, I informed the technical staff today (Sunday) that I will not accept the invitation to join the national team.
“Nevertheless, in light of the recent events, the circumstances do not allow the continuation of this trip at the present time. I am not looking for excuses or compliments, but I demand respect. If this respect is absent from those who should lead the group, I prefer to step aside.”
He stressed, “I am not one of those who adhere to the invitation (to the national team). Good luck to the national team, and like my teammates, I will continue to encourage them with the same dedication that I have always shown on the field.
Italy was absent from the past two versions of the World Cup as a result of its failure to resolve the direct qualification and its having to go to the annex, which makes Spalletti under great pressure since the beginning of its career in the ninth group against Norway and its stars Erng Halland, Martin Audigh and Alexander Sormolm on June 6 in Oslo, then three days later and guest in Rigu Emilia.
As a result of her preoccupation with her matches in the quarter-finals of the European Nations League against Germany (she lost a 1-2 going back and went out for her 3-3 draw), Italy was absent from the first two rounds of the group competitions that Norway topped with six points after winning its matches against Moldavia (5-0) and Israel (4-2), in front of the latter and Estonia (3 points each).