Italy announce squad for June international window; Riccardo Calafiori left out

Inter’s Francesco Acerbi is back in the squad after two years.

Five members of Luciano Spalletti’s most recent Italy national team roster were not called up, including Matteo Politano of Napoli, the 2024–25 Scudetto winner, and defender Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal.

On Monday, Spalletti announced his 27-man roster for Italy’s opening 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. On June 6, the Azzurri will play Norway in Oslo. On June 9, they will play Moldova at home.

The announced Italy team does not include Calafiori. In addition, the former Bologna centre-back was left off Arsenal’s matchday roster for Sunday’s 2024–25 Premier League season finale against Southampton.

In addition to Calafiori, four more players were not included from the most recent roster of the Italian national team.

Politano of Napoli, Pietro Comuzzo of Fiorentina, Matteo Ruggeri of Atalanta, and Mattia Zaccagni of Lazio were all part of the team for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals against Germany in March. But they are not selected for the June World Cup qualifying matches.

Meanwhile, Nerazzurri wing-back Federico Dimarco, Milan’s Matteo Gabbia, Atalanta’s Davide Zappacosta, and 37-year-old Inter defender Francesco Acerbi have returned to the team.

Riccardo Orsolini of Bologna and Manuel Locatelli of Juventus have also been named in the squad. Diego Coppola, a 21-year-old centre back for Hellas Verona, has also received his first call-up.

Italy announce squad for the June international break

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Inter), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Hellas Verona), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham), Davide Zappacosta (Atalanta);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Cesare Casadei (Torino), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Nicolò Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);

Forwards: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese), Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).

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