Federico Dimarco leaves Italy squad injured as Aston Villa’s Matteo Ruggeri is called up

Federico Dimarco has withdrawn from Italy’s training camp after failing to recover from an injury sustained while playing for Inter.

The Italian Football Federation confirmed that the defender will leave the squad in the coming hours after medical tests at the team’s training base in Coverciano showed he was not fit to take part in the national team’s forthcoming fixtures.

“After the medical examinations carried out in Coverciano, Inter defender Federico Dimarco, who has not recovered from a physical problem suffered with his club, is unavailable for the next matches with the national team and will leave the camp in the coming hours,” the federation said.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini has responded by calling up Aston Villa player Matteo Ruggeri to replace Dimarco.

The squad began its latest camp on Sunday evening as Italy prepare for a run of UEFA Nations League matches. They face Belgium on 25 September, Turkey on 28 September, France on 2 October and Turkey again on 5 October.

The camp is Mancini’s first with Italy since he returned to the managerial position during the summer.

Mancini announced his squad on Friday, with nine players receiving their first international call-ups.

There has already been another change to the squad before Dimarco’s withdrawal. Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante was ruled out because of a physical problem, with Como player Samuel Ricci brought in as his replacement.

Dimarco’s absence means Italy will be without one of Inter’s leading players for the upcoming international fixtures. He was named the best player in Serie A last season.