Mancini Returns to Italy Helm, Names 34-Man Squad With Nine Uncapped Players

Roberto Mancini has named a 34-man Italy squad for his first Nations League games since returning to the Azzurri bench, handing first senior call-ups to nine players as he looks to rebuild a side still reeling from a third straight World Cup absence.

The uncapped newcomers include Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford full-back Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sporting CP's Issa Doumbia, Sassuolo striker Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nurnberg's Mohamed Ali Zoma. Mancini also recalled Fiorentina's Nicolo Fagioli and Udinese's Nicolo Zaniolo, neither of whom had featured for Italy since October 2024, while leaving out striker Mateo Retegui despite four goals in seven Saudi Pro League appearances this season.

Mancini, 61, returned to the Italy bench at the end of July on a contract running to 2030, taking over after a chaotic spell that saw Gennaro Gattuso step down following Italy's playoff exit to Bosnia and Herzegovina and a brief, failed attempt to appoint Andrea Pirlo collapse amid backlash over his commercial ties. The Azzurri now face a two-week international window with four fixtures. They host Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on September 25, face Vincenzo Montella's Turkiye on September 28, travel to France on October 2, then host Turkiye again in Bologna on October 5.