Italy coach Giampiero Ventura has said he cannot understand the controversy surrounding Andrea Barzagli's early release from international duty.
Juventus defender Barzagli was given permission to leave the Italy squad after their 2-0 win over Albania on Friday, and some Napoli fans alleged that Ventura was doing Juve a favour prior to the weekend's top-of-the-table clash between the sides.
A photo of Barzagli posing with a DJ on Saturday night also raised questions about why he had been released early.
But Ventura said it was a private matter and the central defender's choice must be respected.
"I we very surprised," the coach told a news conference.
"There had not been any agreement, not even with Juve. I mean, how could there be an agreement with Juve? No agreements can be made when it comes to the national team.
"If a player has a problem before a game, he is not called up.
"Barzagli played against Albania and, after the game, he told me about some serious problems he has -- of a personal nature -- at home with his wife and he asked if he could take three days off."
Ventura said the situation was "unusual" but the squad had accepted it, and he praised Barzagli as "a model professional."
He added: "All that has happened after has shocked me completely -- the photo and everything else.
"I'm shocked because when I was shown the photo, it seemed like it had been taken at three in the morning and if that had been the case, I would have been hugely disappointed.
"Then it was explained how the photo had not been taken at that time and so that was an end of it, also because it was not something that concerned me from the moment Barzagli left Coverciano."
Meanwhile, former AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi, writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, accused Ventura of employing negative tactics on Friday.
"I read what Sacchi wrote and I had two feelings," Ventura said. "I felt disappointed, but I also felt curious. I was disappointed because Arrigo was a reference point for football and it would be good if he would remain that way.
"I was curious because, after reading about all the things that should have been done but which weren't done, I went back to watch the first two games of the 1994 World Cup.
"Italy's first shot against Ireland came in the 70th minute, and then you only need to watch Italy-Mexico again to get where I am going.
"You've got to show respect, and of course this respect must be reciprocal. Football is played on the field, but it is also talked about off it and maybe a bit of reflection might help him remain that reference point he became years ago."