Mancini restarts from the Nations League: 34 players called up, including the Esposito brothers and Vergara.

The Italian national team restarts the Nations League with a 34-man squad, aiming to rediscover enthusiasm and confidence after failing to qualify for the World Cup. For his return to the Azzurri dugout, Roberto Mancini has chosen a large squad, featuring nine newcomers and several key returning players.

The schedule immediately presents a true tour de force: four matches in eleven days, a sequence of commitments that will test the coach's decisions and the players' physical condition.

Nine debutants in the national team

Nine players have been called up to the senior national team for the first time. They are Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford defender Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, Sassuolo forward Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli midfielder Antonio Vergara, and Nuremberg forward Mohamed Ali Zoma.

Particular attention is paid to Vergara, Napoli striker, making his first call-up to the Azzurri.

Honest Ahanor and Samuele Inacio, who were called up last June for the friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, have also been confirmed.

Fagioli and Zaniolo return to the Azzurri

Among the most significant changes is the return of Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo, both absent from the national team since October 2024.

Rolando Mandragora, last called up in March 2021, is also returning to the Azzurri squad. This is a roster that combines fresh energy with players who have already played a leading role in the national team's previous campaigns.

Four games in eleven days

Training will begin on Monday, September 21st at Coverciano. The first official match will be on Friday, September 25th at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, against Belgium, the opening match of the fifth edition of the Nations League.

Three days later, on Monday 28 September, Italy will travel to Turkey at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa.

France will face off in Saint-Denis on Friday, October 2nd. The first international window of the season will close with the second match against Turkey, scheduled for Monday, October 5th at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna.

Two Napoli players

Mancini's list also includes two players with ties to Napoli. These are captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, confirmed in the defensive line, and youngster Antonio Vergara, who is receiving his first call-up. For Vergara, this is his first step on the path to the senior national team.

The complete list of players called up

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus).

Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham).

Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Moise Kean (Como), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nuremberg).