Italy coach Roberto Mancini has named a 34-man squad featuring nine new faces and several notable recalls for his first matches back in charge of the Azzurri. Mancini, who returned to the helm at the end of July on a contract running until 2030, takes over a squad preparing for four UEFA Nations League Group A1 fixtures across an 11-day stretch in September and October.
The 61-year-old manager succeeds Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned following Italy’s World Cup qualification play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. Mancini previously led the national team from 2018 to 2023, capturing the Euro 2020 title before his departure. His second tenure opens with a home fixture against Belgium at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Friday, September 25.
New Faces and Youth Included in 34-Man Roster
Mancini’s squad selection introduces nine players receiving their first senior call-ups to the national setup. The new additions span across all outfield positions and goalkeeping:
- Goalkeeper: Massimo Pessina (Bologna)
- Defenders: Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza)
- Midfielders: Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Issa Doumbia (Sporting Lisbon)
- Forwards: Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Mohamed Ali Zoma (Nuremberg)
In addition to the debutants, teenager outfield players Honest Ahanor of Crystal Palace and Samuele Inacio of Borussia Dortmund have retained their places in the squad following initial call-ups for friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece in June. Midfielders Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo return to international duty for the first time since October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora earns a recall following a lengthy absence.
Nations League Schedule and Group Fixtures
The Azzurri face a demanding start to Group A1 action. Following the September 25 clash against Belgium in Rome, Italy travels to face Turkey in Bursa on September 28. The team then visits France—managed by Zinedine Zidane—at the Stade de France on October 2, before returning home to host Turkey at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on October 5.
While established pillars like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nicolò Barella anchor the group, the injection of young talent provides fresh options across the pitch as the squad embarks on its autumn campaign.
Worth a look
