Kenya Sport

Federico Dimarco Withdraws from Italy's Nations League Squad

Federico Dimarco has pulled out of Italy’s latest Nations League squad, with Aston Villa wing-back Matteo Ruggeri drafted in as his replacement.

The FIGC confirmed on Monday that the Inter star and reigning Serie A MVP reported to Coverciano but failed to shake off a physical problem picked up with his club. After medical tests at the training base, the decision was taken for Dimarco to leave camp and return home.

“Following the medical test carried out at Coverciano, Inter defender Federico Dimarco, who has not recovered from a physical issue he suffered with his club, is unavailable for the upcoming national team commitments and will leave the camp in the next few hours,” read the FIGC statement. “In his place, Roberto Mancini has called up Aston Villa defender Matteo Ruggeri.”

It is another early adjustment for Mancini in his first Italy camp since being re-appointed CT earlier in the summer. The Azzurri gathered on Sunday evening to prepare for a demanding Nations League run: Belgium on September 25, Turkiye on September 28, France on October 2, then Turkiye again on October 5.

Dimarco’s withdrawal comes on the back of Bryan Cristante’s exit from the group. On Sunday, the FIGC announced that the Roma midfielder had been forced out by a physical issue, with Como’s Samuele Ricci stepping in.

Mancini had already made headlines on Friday with a bold, refreshed squad list. He handed first senior call-ups to nine players, including Michael Kayode, Antonio Vergara, Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia and Mohamed Ali Zoma, underlining a clear intent to widen the pool and inject new energy into the group.

Ruggeri, formerly of Atalanta and now at Aston Villa in the Premier League, joins that wave of new and emerging faces, filling the void on the left created by Dimarco’s absence.

Italy’s Squad for the Nations League

After the latest changes, Italy’s squad for this Nations League window currently stands as follows:

  • 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), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Matteo Ruggeri (Aston Villa), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).
  • Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).

Dimarco exits, Ruggeri steps in, and Mancini presses on with a squad that looks younger, riskier, and far less predictable. The real judgment comes when Belgium walk out to face this new-look Italy.

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