Mancini Makes Bold Choices as Italy Name 34-Man Nations League Squad

Roberto Mancini has begun his second spell in charge of Italy by announcing a 34-player squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Several familiar names have been left out, including Mateo Retegui, Mattia Zaccagni, and Destiny Udogie, as Mancini looks to reshape the national team with a mixture of established players and emerging talent.

Italy face an important run of matches against Belgium, Turkiye, and France, beginning on September 25. Mancini has included nine players who could make their senior international debuts, highlighting his willingness to introduce new faces into the squad. At the same time, injuries have ruled out several experienced players, including Manuel Locatelli, Marco Palestra, and Federico Chiesa.

Retegui's omission is particularly notable considering Mancini handed him his Italy debut in 2023. Since then, the striker has moved to Al-Qadsiah and now faces increased competition for a place in the national team attack. Zaccagni is another surprising absentee after the Lazio captain made an impressive start to the season. Gabbia and Udogie have also been overlooked, with the latter having been away from the international setup for an extended period.

Mancini's selection reflects an apparent effort to balance experience with younger options as Italy prepare for the Nations League and the next stage of their international development. The squad contains established figures such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Nicolò Barella, Sandro Tonali, and Gianluca Scamacca, alongside several less experienced players hoping to establish themselves at senior level.

Italy's wider youth setup is also preparing for important European Championship qualification matches, with the Under-21 side scheduled to face Armenia and Poland. Players such as Cher Ndour, Niccolò Pisilli, and Alphadjo Cisse remain involved at that level as Italy pursue qualification. Meanwhile, Mancini's senior squad will begin its Nations League campaign with a new combination of players, providing an early indication of the direction he intends to take during his second spell in charge.