Gabbia, Pisilli and Maldini named in Italy´s Nations League squad

Luciano Spalletti handed four players their senior call-up to the Italy national team ahead of their Nations League fixtures next week.

Italy take on Belgium and Israel in the next round of games, hoping to build on their impressive start in Group A2 after winning their opening two matches, which included a 3-1 win over France.

Milan defender Matteo Gabbia has been included after an impressive run of performances at centre-back under new head coach Paulo Fonseca.

Gabbia is also the first player from the Rossoneri to be named in the Italy squad in almost 600 days, with Sandro Tonali, who joined Newcastle in 2023, the last Milan representative to feature for the Azzurri.

There was also a place in the squad for Monza’s Daniel Maldini, who could follow in the footsteps of his father Paolo, and grandfather Cesare, both former Italy captains.

Maldini has one goal and one assist in seven appearances in all competitions this season, and comes in for Lazio’s Matteo Zaccagni.

Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has also been given a first call-up to the senior side, replacing the injured Alex Meret of Napoli.

Roma’s Niccolo Pisilli was also named in the squad, replacing Atlanta’s Marco Brescianini, who has suffered a recent injury set-back.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Luciano Spalletti’s squad for the Azzurri’s next two Nations League matches #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/R557BVHMNv

— Italy (@Azzurri_En) October 4, 2024

There were five Premier League representatives named in Spalletti’s 23-man squad on Friday, with Guglielmo Vicario, Riccardo Calafiori, Caleb Okoli, Destiny Udogie and Tonali also included.

However, there was no space for Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, who did not feature in the Reds’ Champions League win over Bologna in midweek.

Italy squad: Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG), Guglielmo Vicario (Spurs), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Caleb Okoli (Leicester), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Niccolo Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Monza), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).