Roberto Mancini's Bold New Squad for Italy in UEFA Nations League
Roberto Mancini has wasted no time in stamping his mark on Italy – again.
Back in the Azzurri dugout after Gennaro Gattuso’s short-lived spell and a third straight World Cup failure, the 61-year-old has named a bold 34-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, and it looks very different to the side that conquered Europe in 2021.
Only six survivors remain from that Euro 2020 triumph: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Nicolo Barella, Bryan Cristante and Giacomo Raspadori. The message is clear. This is a reset.
Big names cut as Mancini swings the axe
The first headline from Mancini’s list is who is not there.
Chelsea’s Marco Palestra, recently sidelined by injury, has been left out despite making his debut in March. Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie, absent from the national side since June 2025, also misses the cut. So does Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, a key figure in the Euro 2020 run but without an Italy appearance since Euro 2024.
They are not alone. Juventus trio Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Andrea Cambiaso are all omitted. Napoli pair Leonardo Spinazzola and Alessandro Buongiorno drop out, as does Al-Qadsiah striker Mateo Retegui.
For a first squad back in charge, Mancini has been ruthless.
Nine new faces as a new Italy takes shape
The clear-out has opened the door for a wave of fresh talent. Nine players receive their first senior call-up.
- Brentford right-back Michael Kayode headlines that group,
- joined by 18-year-old Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina.
- Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi and Monza’s Eddy Kouadio come in,
- as do Cagliari’s Alessandro Romano and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Issa Doumbia.
- Up front and in attacking areas, Mancini has turned to Sassuolo’s Sebastiano Esposito,
- Napoli’s Antonio Vergara and Nurnberg’s Mohamed Ali Zoma,
- all rewarded with a place in the squad.
This is not tinkering at the edges. It is a structural shake-up.
Young guns keep their place
Amid the changes, two teenagers keep their spots and underline the generational shift.
Borussia Dortmund forward Samuele Inacio, born in Italy to a Brazilian father and committed to the Azzurri, retains his place. So does 18-year-old Honest Ahanor, on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea.
They are joined by a core of established names expected to carry leadership weight: Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori, Inter Milan duo Federico Dimarco and Nicolo Barella, Tottenham midfielder Sandro Tonali and Como striker Moise Kean all make the cut.
Mancini has blended scarred veterans with ambitious kids. It looks deliberate, not accidental.
A brutal Nations League schedule
There will be no gentle easing-in period.
Italy meet Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on September 25 to launch their Nations League campaign in League A Group 1. Three days later they head to Bursa to face Turkey, before travelling to Saint-Denis to take on 2026 World Cup semi-finalists France on October 2.
The break ends back on home soil at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on October 5, where Italy host Turkey again.
Before that run, the squad will gather at Coverciano next Monday for their first training session under Mancini’s restored regime.
A coach returning. A squad reshaped. A fanbase demanding a response. With Belgium, Turkey and France looming, Italy are about to discover whether this new-look Azzurri can carry the weight of a fallen giant trying to rise again.
