Italy coach Luciano Spalletti had already revealed that Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni was the one who asked to be spared of his national duty, and a report from Il Messaggero (via la Lazio Siamo Noi) sheds some light on the player’s condition.
It was initially believed that the Azzurri boss decided to leave out the 29-year-old for technical reasons, especially as he continues to rely on a 3-4-2-1 formation that leaves little room for attacking wingers. Nevertheless, Spalletti explained that the decision was based upon the player’s request as he had a physical issue to solve.
Zaccagni Requested to Stay out of Italy Squad
According to the source, Zaccagni has been suffering pain in the back. He explained the situation to his national team manager in a phone call ahead of last weekend’s clash between Lazio and Empoli. The Biancocelesti captain produced a solid display display, leading his side towards a 2-1 victory after scoring the equalizer himself.
But as the report explains, the former Hellas Verona man doesn’t want his condition to aggravate while on international duty. So he preferred to stay at Formello and allow it to fully heal before taking on Juventus on October 19th.
Zaccagni inherited the captaincy following Ciro Immobile’s transfer to Besiktas in the summer, and he’s now been entrusted with further responsibilities at the club. The Italy international has thus far scored three goals and created two assists in nine appearances between Serie A and the Europa League this season.