Mancini's 34‑player Italy squad omits Retegui, Zaccagni and Udogie
Roberto Mancini has announced a 34‑player Italy squad for his first senior selection, but he omitted several high‑profile names – Mateo Retegui, Mattia Zaccagni, Destiny Udogie, Matteo Gabbia and Matteo Politano – while a number of others remain with the Under‑21 side.
Upcoming Nations League fixtures
The Azzurri start this second Mancini era in the Nations League with a home game against Belgium on 25 September, followed by the Turkish side Turkiye on 28 September, France on 2 October and a return to Turkiye on 5 October. Group A will conclude with France on 12 November and Belgium on 15 November. Mancini revealed the squad in PARMA, ITALY, following the Serie A clash between Parma and Cagliari on 22 August.
Injuries and high‑profile snubs
Mancini also left out several players who are currently unavailable through injury, including Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli, Chelsea forward Marco Palestra, Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa, Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini and Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Mateo Retegui earned his Italy debut in March 2023 and has since recorded 11 goals and five assists in 28 senior appearances. A move to Al‑Qadsiah and the rise of alternative options have seen him omitted from the current list.
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Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni, whose club has begun the Serie A season strongly, is a surprising omission. Napoli forward Matteo Politano, a regular starter for his side, also fails to make the squad. Zaccagni featured in the ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12 Serie A encounter against AC Milan.
Defender Matteo Gabbia has struggled with injuries recently, which likely contributed to his exclusion. Tottenham Hotspur full‑back Destiny Udogie, expected to receive a call after nearly a year without an Italy appearance, was also left out.
The Under‑21 European Championship qualifiers remain a priority, with Italy set to face Armenia and Poland. Consequently, Silvio Baldini retained Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour, Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli and Milan forward Alphadjo Cisse in the younger pool.
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Full 34‑man roster
The 34‑man roster lists three goalkeepers – Marco Carnesecchi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Massimo Pessina – and a spread of defenders, midfielders and forwards from clubs across Serie A, the Premier League and the Bundesliga, including Nicolò Barella, Bryan Cristante, Sandro Tonali and Giacomo Raspadori.