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“Who doesn’t want to represent us, even though he is a quality player, had better stay at home,” Francesco Calzona said.
Aleksandar Čavrić has turned down another invitation to join the Slovakia national football team, continuing a standoff that began when he gained citizenship under the former coaching staff, Šport.sk reported.
Slovakia head coach Vladimír Weiss st. wanted Čavrić for upcoming matches in the UEFA Nations League, but the naturalized Serb declined the call. Weiss spoke with the Kashima Antlers forward multiple times to convince him to join the squad.
“Unfortunately he decided the way he decided, that he wouldn’t come for some personal reasons, family reasons,” Weiss explained to Šport.sk.
The player was also included in the wider squad for November fixtures as a standby option. “I put him there as a substitute with the idea that maybe he would call,” Weiss said. “But he didn’t call, so it’s more or less just platonic.”
Čavrić acquired a Slovak passport in March 2024 during the tenure of former coach Calzona. The Italian manager immediately selected him for preparatory matches ahead of the European Championship, despite the player informing Slovak Football Association president Ján Kováčik that he would not arrive.
Kováčik stated he did not consider the player’s stance definitive at the time. Calzona defended the selection by noting it remained unclear whether the forward would report to camp.
The player ultimately stayed with his club in Japan due to adjustment recommendations after a brief stint in the J.League.
Pavol Farkaš, who served as an assistant to Calzona for nearly four years, addressed the ongoing situation in an interview with Šport.sk. Farkaš confirmed the coaching staff initially believed the player wanted to represent the country.
“When that passport was sorted out, we approached him and he was really like, yes, he wants to represent and he appreciates it,” Farkaš told Šport.sk. “But he changed that opinion very quickly, which of course disappointed us as well.”
Farkaš said that Čavrić held strong form around the time of his transfer to Asia and continues to produce high numbers abroad. He currently records 11 goals across 18 matches in all competitions this season, averaging a goal every 68 minutes despite mostly appearing as a second-half substitute.
“I don’t see into his head, he preferred the club to the national team,” Farkaš said to Šport.sk. “I think it doesn’t make sense to drag someone forcibly to the national team.”
The forward cited personal and family reasons, alongside a need to settle in with his club Kashima Antlers in Japan, according to comments from coach Vladimír Weiss st. reported by Šport.sk.
He has scored 11 goals in 18 appearances across all competitions for his club, requiring an average of 68 minutes per goal as noted by Šport.sk.
He obtained his Slovak passport in March 2024 during the tenure of former national team coach Francesco Calzona, as documented by Šport.sk.
Slovakia hosts the Faroe Islands in Košices on November 13, followed by an away fixture against Kazakhstan three days later.
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