"Acerbi denies racist insult, but we have to be careful"

Italy coach Spalletti said on Monday that it is a "displeasure to have to make decisions of this kind" with players in the national team, but that while Acerbi denies racism towards Napoli's Brazilian Juan Jesus, "we have to be vigilant because we have responsibilities".

"It's a huge disappointment to take decisions because of this kind of episode here in the national team. But we have to be vigilant, even when we denounce such an episode," the coach told a press conference.

"We saw Francesco in trouble, but we have to be careful with our behaviour, we have a responsibility," he added. And he ratified the Italian Football Federation's statement that Acerbi denied it was a racist insult: "From what Acerbi told me, it's not an episode of racism. 

Furthermore, the coach, who played alongside Juan Jesus for the last two seasons, revealed that he has tried to contact him: "He's not answering, his phone is switched off". Acerbi himself, after leaving the training camp, denied the racist insult towards Juan Jesus.