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Italy announces fresh-faced squad for new chapter
Published : Saturday, 19 September, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Observer Online Report
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Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has announced a 34-member squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, with nine players receiving their first call-up to the senior national team.
The squad marks Mancini’s return to the Italy dugout as the Azzurri prepare for a demanding run of Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Türkiye and France.
Among the newcomers are Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford defender Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sassuolo forward Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nürnberg forward Mohamed Alì Zoma.
Several familiar names also return to the squad. Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo are back after last featuring for Italy in October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora returns for the first time since March 2021.
The squad includes established stars such as captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Nicolò Barella, Sandro Tonali, Davide Frattesi, Moise Kean and Gianluca Scamacca.
Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Carnesecchi, Massimo Pessina, Guglielmo Vicario.
Defenders: Honest Ahanor, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Diego Coppola, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Federico Dimarco, Daniele Ghilardi, Michael Kayode, Eddy Kouadio, Gianluca Mancini, Giorgio Scalvini.
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella, Bryan Cristante, Issa Doumbia, Nicolò Fagioli, Davide Frattesi, Rolando Mandragora, Alessandro Romano, Sandro Tonali.
Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi, Francesco Pio Esposito, Sebastiano Esposito, Samuele Inacio, Moise Kean, Daniel Maldini, Giacomo Raspadori, Gianluca Scamacca, Antonio Vergara, Nicolò Zaniolo, Mohamed Alì Zoma.
Italy will begin their Nations League campaign against Belgium at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on September 25. They will then face Türkiye in Bursa on September 28, France in Saint-Denis on October 2 and Türkiye again in Bologna on October 5.
The squad marks Mancini’s return to the Italy dugout as the Azzurri prepare for a demanding run of Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Türkiye and France.
Among the newcomers are Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford defender Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sassuolo forward Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nürnberg forward Mohamed Alì Zoma.
Several familiar names also return to the squad. Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo are back after last featuring for Italy in October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora returns for the first time since March 2021.
The squad includes established stars such as captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Nicolò Barella, Sandro Tonali, Davide Frattesi, Moise Kean and Gianluca Scamacca.
Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Carnesecchi, Massimo Pessina, Guglielmo Vicario.
Defenders: Honest Ahanor, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Diego Coppola, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Federico Dimarco, Daniele Ghilardi, Michael Kayode, Eddy Kouadio, Gianluca Mancini, Giorgio Scalvini.
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella, Bryan Cristante, Issa Doumbia, Nicolò Fagioli, Davide Frattesi, Rolando Mandragora, Alessandro Romano, Sandro Tonali.
Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi, Francesco Pio Esposito, Sebastiano Esposito, Samuele Inacio, Moise Kean, Daniel Maldini, Giacomo Raspadori, Gianluca Scamacca, Antonio Vergara, Nicolò Zaniolo, Mohamed Alì Zoma.
Italy will begin their Nations League campaign against Belgium at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on September 25. They will then face Türkiye in Bursa on September 28, France in Saint-Denis on October 2 and Türkiye again in Bologna on October 5.
The Azzurri will also face France at home in Milan and Belgium away in Brussels in November as the Nations League group stage continues.
-AAH
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
