Gattuso continued to inflame social networks with an unexpected declaration after Inter’s victory, when he criticized a player “he played as if he hadn’t slept”. Immediately, a wave of protests against this coach exploded !!

Gennaro Gattuso, the legend of Italian football and current coach of the Italian national team, found himself once again at the center of a storm on social media following a controversial post-match comment. After Inter’s exciting victory for 4-3 over Barcelona in the return semifinal of UEFA Champions League of 7 May 2025, Gattuso harshly criticized one of the players of Inter, stating: “He played as if he had been deprived of sleep”. The statement, made during a press conference, quickly triggered a violent reaction from fans, experts and even some members of the Italian football community, raising doubts about the frank style of Gattuso and on its ability to manage the pressure of the management of the blues.

The context of the comment by Gattuso derives from the spectacular performance of Inter against Barcelona, ​​a match that saw the Italian team reassembling a disadvantage of 3-2 in the first leg and winning a total triumph of 7-6. The game, played at the iconic Camp Nou, was a swing of emotions, with the offensive talent and the defensive resilience of Inter who shone in extra time. Despite the victory, Gattuso, to whom the task of reconstructing the Italian national team was entrusted after the sensational defeat for 0-3 against Norway in the qualifications of the 2026 World Cup, did not seem impressed by the contribution of a player whose name was not made known. While not having made the explicit name of the player, speculations have spread on social media, with many who indicate the Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella, a key figure both at the club and national level, as a probable objective due to his unusual subdued performance.

The frank judgment of Gattuso, expressed with its typical intensity, intended to underline the high standards that expect from the players who compete for a place in the national team. “We cannot allow ourselves to let nobody get by, especially in games of this reach,” he said in a voice imbued with frustration. “If you stay out there as if you haven’t slept for days, you are not helping the team or yourself.” For a coach known for his passionate and pragmatic approach, both as a player and now as a coach, the comment was in line with his personality. However, in the hyperconnex world of 2025, where each word is analyzed online, his observations were welcomed with rapid and incessant criticisms.

Within a few hours, hashtags like #gattusouout and #Respecttheplayers began to spread on platforms like X, with the fans who accused the 47 -year -old of unjustly targeted a player who had just contributed to one of the most memorable European nights of Inter. “How do Gattuso dare criticize someone after that heroic victory? Is it just envious that Inter are doing better than his national team,” wrote a user, collecting thousands of “likes”. Others defended the player in question, claiming that the exhausting calendar of modern football, combined with the pressure of playing both at the club and international level, could explain a decrease in perceived shape. “These players are human, not machines. Gattuso must show some empathy,” we read in another comment.

The negative reaction was not limited to the fans. Several Italian experts intervened, questioning the timing and touch of Gattuso. Former Inter coach Antonio Conte, now coach of Al Hilal, suggested that these public criticisms could demotivate players. “Nobody is thrown under the bus after such a victory,” Conte said in a television interview. “Rino’s passion is his strength, but he must choose his moments”. In the meantime, Gianluigi Buffon, sports director of the national team and former teammate of Gattuso, has tried to dilute the situation, affirming: “Rino has his heart in the right place. He is trying to instill a winning mentality, but perhaps the words have come out more hard than expected”.

It is not the first time that Gattuso’s fiery temperament puts him in trouble. At the beginning of 2025, while he trained Hajduk Split, he collided with the Croatian commentator Josko Jelicic, accusing him of lack of respect in a heated exchange of jokes that became viral. His reputation of a straightforward person, forged during his years as a player at Milan and consolidated by the triumph at the 2006 World Cup with Italy, also followed him in the coach’s career. Yet, while Italy struggles to ensure a place at the 2026 World Cup after skipping the previous two, the critics of Gattuso claim that his abrasive style risks alienating the players he should inspire.

Gattuso fans, however, see his outburst as a necessary alarm bell. With Italy at the disadvantage of nine points compared to Norway in the qualifying group of the World Cup, the pressure to obtain results is high. “Rino is simply doing what he has always done: to demand 100%,” said a fan on X. “If you can’t manage criticism, you shouldn’t play for Italy”. Others indicate his curriculum, including the victory of Napoli in the Italian Cup 2019-20, as proof of his ability to galvanize the teams under pressure.

While the debate rages online, Gattuso remains imperturbable, preparing for the friendly of Italy against Austria of 24 June 2025. It remains to be seen if his last controversy will galvanize or destabilize the blues, but one thing is certain: Gennaro Gattuso continues to honor his nickname, “Tornado”, leaving behind a whirlwind of opinions.