Italy head coach Roberto Mancini defended his squad selection, stating that the national team cannot call up players of that age during this phase of transition.
Corriere dello Sport reported that the remarks came ahead of Italy’s UEFA Nations League Group A1 fixture against France.
The Italian squad for the upcoming matches is younger on average than the group that met last September. Mancini addressed omissions that drew public debate, including veterans Federico Bernardeschi and Bryan Cristante alongside Frosinone midfielder Giacomo Calò, who was left off the list despite scoring five goals in the opening ten league matches.
Regarding Bernardeschi and Cristante, Mancini noted that coaching staff already know their capabilities well. According to Corriere dello Sport, the manager stated that when the national team requires their experience, they will receive a call, but current priorities lie with evaluating younger alternatives.
The exclusion of Calò sparked notable debate across Italian sports media. Sportmediaset reported that Calò’s agent, Vincenzo Pisacane, criticized the decision in an interview with TuttoMercatoWeb, calling the 29-year-old statistically the best Italian midfielder at present and expressing hope that the omission is not “the death of meritocracy.”
Corriere dello Sport reported the coach as saying that while Frosinone boasts several strong players, the technical staff cannot call up players aged 29 or 30 at this stage simply because an agent applies pressure.
Mancini emphasized the search for emerging technical qualities across domestic leagues and international ranks. The manager highlighted young talents such as Mattia Liberali, noting his strong performances in youth categories despite limited Serie A experience.
The coaching staff also secured commitments from dual-nationality prospects. Corriere dello Sport reported that Italy successfully recruited defender Palma, who had been courted by Germany, along with young playmaker Romano, who Mancini described as a player who needs consistent minutes at club level while developing under the national setup.
In the absence of a fixed veteran playmaker in the mold of Jorginho, Mancini pointed to midfielders like Sandro Tonali as capable options to manage the role during the upcoming fixtures.
Italy prepares to face France on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 20:45 local time (UTC+1) at San Siro in Milan for the fourth matchday of Group A1 in the UEFA Nations League. Mancini stressed that the team is actively fighting for semifinal qualification in a tightly contested group stage.
Related reading
