Destiny Udogie's agent has explained the decision for the Tottenham defender to withdraw from the Italy squad.
The left-back has been battling a muscle injury over the past month, since he was forced off early in the win over Fulham and then missed the following match against Crystal Palace.
While Udogie returned to start against Chelsea, he was sent off in that chaotic defeat to the Blues and was therefore suspended for the defeat to Wolves just before the international break.
It was then announced that Udogie had pulled out of the Italy squad due to injury, sparking fears that Spurs could be set for a further blow. Ange Postecoglou is already expected to be without James Maddison and Micky van de Ven for the rest of the year, while Richarlison recently had groin surgery.
Italy have also been hit by Udogie's absence, ahead of a crucial fortnight for the Azzurri. They face North Macedonia and Ukraine in their final two Euro 2024 qualifiers, with the reigning European champions' place in Germany next summer very much still in the balance.
Udogie's agent Stefano Antonelli has revealed that the defender pushed for Spurs to let him be involved in those qualifiers, but it was ultimately decided that he should not join up with the Italy squad due to fears of a "relapse" with his injury.
“Unfortunately, in the match against Sheffield United at home, Destiny had a flexor problem," Antonelli told TuttoMercatoWeb.
"Tottenham did everything they could to get him back for the Chelsea game, which was also a poor match: he played 60 minutes before being sent off. Afterwards, it was deemed appropriate not to risk it as there would be been a risk of relapse.
“Destiny, until the last moment, tried to convince the Tottenham staff that the national team was something exceptional for him. He is a 20-year-old who told me, ‘we want to be part of history, to be part of this group in the run up of the Euros is to be part of history’.”
