Dimarco Out, Ruggeri In for Italy's Nations League Squad
Federico Dimarco has pulled out of Italy’s latest Nations League camp, with Aston Villa full-back Matteo Ruggeri drafted in as his replacement, the FIGC confirmed on Monday.
Mancini’s first camp back in charge has barely started and already the squad list is shifting.
Dimarco out, Ruggeri in
The Inter wing-back, last season’s Serie A MVP, reported to Coverciano with the rest of the group on Sunday evening as Italy began preparations for a demanding run of fixtures: Belgium on September 25, Turkiye on September 28, France on October 2 and Turkiye again on October 5.
After medical tests at the training base, the FIGC announced that Dimarco had not recovered from a physical problem sustained with his club and would leave the camp.
“Following the medical test carried out at Coverciano, Inter defender Federico Dimarco, who has not recovered from a physical issue he suffered with his club, is unavailable for the upcoming national team commitments and will leave the camp in the next few hours,” read the federation’s statement. “In his place, Roberto Mancini has called up Aston Villa defender Matteo Ruggeri.”
For Ruggeri, formerly of Atalanta and now playing his football in the Premier League, the call is another step in a rapid rise. For Mancini, it is an early test of depth on the flanks in a key tactical role.
Early reshuffles for Mancini
This is Mancini’s first national team camp since his re-appointment as CT earlier in the summer, and he had already signalled a new cycle with a bold squad announcement on Friday. Nine players received their first senior call-ups, including Michael Kayode, Antonio Vergara, Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia and Mohamed Ali Zoma.
The plan has already needed adjustment.
On Sunday night, Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante withdrew because of a physical issue, with Como’s Samuele Ricci stepping in. Dimarco’s exit, confirmed 24 hours later, makes it two enforced changes before the first ball has been kicked.
The reshuffle hands Mancini a slightly different-looking group for a Nations League block that will act as an early benchmark for his second spell in charge.
Updated Italy squad
- Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus)
- Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Matteo Ruggeri (Aston Villa), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
- Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)
The names are changing fast. The question now is whether Mancini’s revamped Italy can settle just as quickly once the Nations League campaign kicks off.
