Roberto Mancini's Bold New Era for Italy: 34-Man Squad Announced
Roberto Mancini has wasted no time in putting his stamp back on Italy. Barely weeks after returning to the Azzurri bench on a contract running to 2030, he has named a bold 34-man squad for a demanding Nations League window that will test both his ideas and his nerve.
Across two weeks, Italy will face Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye twice, as well as Belgium and Zinedine Zidane’s France. The new chapter officially opens on Friday, September 25, when Belgium visit the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
A new look, and nine fresh faces
Mancini has swung hard at renewal. Nine players receive their first senior call-up, a clear signal that reputations alone will not carry anyone through this cycle.
Between the posts, Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina steps into the national team environment for the first time. At the back, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi and Brentford full-back Michael Kayode headline a defensive reshuffle that leans heavily on youth and upside.
They are joined by Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, while Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano offers fresh legs and energy in the middle of the park. Sporting CP prospect Issa Doumbia adds another intriguing option in a department Mancini has often treated as the heartbeat of his sides.
Up front, the rebuild is just as aggressive. Sassuolo striker Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara, and Nurnberg’s Mohamed Ali Zoma are all drafted in to deepen and diversify Italy’s attacking options. None of them has kicked a ball for the senior side before. All three now have a window to convince.
Amid the new blood, Mancini has kept faith with players he recently reintroduced. Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor and Borussia Dortmund forward Samuele Inacio, both involved in the latest friendlies, keep their places and are handed another chance to cement roles in this evolving squad.
Big recalls and one notable omission
The revolution is not purely about debutants. Mancini has also reopened the door to several familiar names who have spent a long time outside the national team picture.
Fiorentina midfielder Nicolò Fagioli and Udinese attacker Nicolò Zaniolo are both recalled, ending absences that stretch back to October 2024. Their return underlines Mancini’s willingness to blend rehabilitation with renewal, banking on players who have already shown they can handle the Azzurri shirt.
Perhaps the most eye-catching comeback belongs to Rolando Mandragora. The Torino midfielder last appeared for Italy in March 2021. Now he re-emerges as a surprise inclusion, a reminder that form and tactical fit can rewrite hierarchies quickly under this coach.
There is, however, no place for Chelsea defender Marco Palestra. As widely expected, his ongoing injury and lack of minutes this season have ruled him out of contention for this window. Mancini has opted against taking any risks there, preferring fully fit options as he lays the foundations for a long-term project.
A demanding schedule for Mancini’s new era
The squad will report to Coverciano on Monday, September 21, for the first training session of this new cycle. From there, the calendar offers no soft landings.
After hosting Belgium in Rome on September 25, Italy travel to face Türkiye on September 28 in the first of two meetings with Montella’s side. The level then ratchets up again: a trip to France to meet Zidane’s team on Friday, October 2, promises a stern examination of both Mancini’s selections and his tactical tweaks.
The window closes on October 5 at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna, where Italy will host Türkiye once more. By then, the picture around these nine debutants, the returning figures, and Mancini’s reshaped core will be far clearer.
This is not a gentle reset. It is a hard turn toward 2030. Now the question is simple: how quickly can this new-look Italy grow into a team that matches the ambition of the man who has just ripped up the old script?
