Mancini names nine Italy newcomers for Nations League campaign

Roberto Mancini has named a 34-man Italy squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, with nine players receiving their first call-ups and several familiar names returning to the Azzurri setup.

The 61-year-old coach returned to the Italy job at the end of July on a contract running until 2030. His second spell begins with a meeting against Belgium at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Friday, 25 September.

Italy will then travel to face Turkey on 28 September before visiting France, managed by Zinedine Zidane, on Friday, 2 October. Turkey will travel to Bologna for the return fixture on 5 October, with the match scheduled to take place at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

The new faces in the squad are Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford full-back Mikel Kayode, Monza defender Eddie Kouadio, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sporting Lisbon prospect Isa Doumbia, Sassuolo forward Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nurnberg striker Mohamed Ali Zouma.

Crystal Palace player Honest Ahanor, who moved to the club via Atalanta and Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund playmaker Samuel Inacio have also been included.

Mancini has recalled Nicolo Fagioli and Nicolo Zaniolo, who have not played for Italy since October 2024. Rolando Mandragora returns for the first time since his last call-up in March 2021.

Chelsea player Marco Balestra misses out because of injury.

Italy squad

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), Mikel Kayode (Brentford), Eddie Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).

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

Forwards: Nicolo Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Samuel Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Moise Kean (Como), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolo Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Ali Zouma (Nurnberg).