Nine New Faces Included as Retegui and Udogie Omitted
Nine uncapped players have earned selection in Roberto Mancini‘s expanded 34-man Italy squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, commencing with a fixture against Belgium on September 25. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) roster features extensive personnel shifts, opting against calling up high-profile figures including Mateo Retegui, Mattia Zaccagni, and Destiny Udogie for the autumn schedule.
The selection overhaul directly impacts squad selection dynamics as the national side prepares for four international matches in quick succession. While fitness concerns removed options such as Manuel Locatelli, Federico Chiesa, and Alex Meret, Mancini chose to leave out active senior contributors like Retegui, who holds 11 goals in 28 international appearances, alongside Lazio’s Mattia Zaccagni and Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie. Several youth-eligible talents were also left available for Under-21 European Championship qualifying fixtures against Armenia and Poland.
Destiny Udogie
playerThis four-match Nations League block tests squad depth immediately against Belgium, Turkiye, and France. The technical staff’s integration of nine potential debutants provides an immediate structural shift in the team setup ahead of back-to-back competitive windows.
“Roberto Mancini called a massive 34 players for his first Italy squad, but still left out names including Mateo Retegui, Mattia Zaccagni, Destiny Udogie…”
Football Italia