Overview
- Roberto Mancini announced an expanded 34‑player roster that includes nine players picked for their first senior Italy call‑ups as he begins his second spell as head coach.
- The list omits several established figures, most notably striker Mateo Retegui, a move that highlights Mancini’s priority on reshaping the team’s core rather than selecting solely on current club form.
- Cagliari forward Daniel Maldini is included despite having his driving licence suspended after a recent car crash in Milan when he was found over the legal alcohol limit, raising questions about selection standards.
- Italy will use four Nations League matches as an early test of Mancini’s choices, starting with the Rome meeting with Belgium and followed by games against Turkey and France.
- Mancini’s appointment follows a turbulent summer for the FIGC that saw Gennaro Gattuso quit and a collapsed Andrea Pirlo approach, and the coach has said he plans a multi‑year technical rebuild encompassing youth integration and scouting reform.