Italy called up 34 players, but Mancini snubbed Retegui, Udoji, Zaccagni and Politano

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BERGAMO, ITALY - MARCH 26: Italian player Matteo Retegui reacts during the KO play-off match between Italy and Northern Ireland in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup at the Estadio di Bergamo, Italy on March 26, 2026. (Photo by Marco Luzani/Getty Images)

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Italian player Matteo Retegui reacts during the KO play-off match between Italy and Northern Ireland in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup at the Estadio di Bergamo, Italy on March 26, 2026. (Photo by Marco Luzani/Getty Images)


Roberto Mancini called up 34 players for his first Italy team but still left out names including Matteo Retegui, Mattia Zakani, Destiny Udoji, Matteo Gabbia and Matteo Politano, while others remained in the U-21 squad.

The Azzurri begin the second Mancini era in the Nations League and will face Belgium on September 25, Turkey on September 28, France on October 2 and then Turkey again on October 5.

Group A games end on November 12th against France and November 15th against Belgium.

PARMA, ITALY - AUGUST 22: (LR) Leonardo Bonucci and Roberto Mancini watch the Serie A match between Parma and Cagliari at the Ennio Tardini Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzari/Getty Images)
PARMA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: (LR) Leonardo Bonucci and Roberto Mancini watch the Serie A match between Parma and Cagliari at the Ennio Tardini Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzari/Getty Images)

CT called up 34 players for the four games, including nine new faces who had never played for the Italian senior team.

However, he has still snubbed quite a few other big-name players, with the likes of Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli, Chelsea’s Marco Paletra, Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini and Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret all injured.

Retegui made his Italian debut under Mancini in March 2023, when he was still relatively unknown in Argentina, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 28 senior games.

However, the move to Alcadesia and the emergence of other replacements appear to have pushed him out.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 12: Lazio's Mattia Zaccani competes with AC Milan's Mario Gira during the Serie A match between Lazio and AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Lazio’s Mattia Zaccani competes with AC Milan’s Mario Gira during the Serie A match between Lazio and AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Lazio captain Zakani’s surprising snubPolitano is also a regular at Napoli given his club’s start to the season.

Milan defender Gabbia has struggled with injury of late at least but Tottenham defender Udoji is expected to get a call almost a year after his last appearance in Italy.

LEEDS, UK - OCTOBER 4: Tottenham Hotspur's Destiny Udoji is challenged by Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on October 4, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Stu Foster/Getty Images)
LEEDS, UK – OCTOBER 4: Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udoji is challenged by Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on October 4, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Stu Foster/Getty Images)

There is also the matter of European Under-21 Championship qualifiers to consider, as Italy will face Armenia and Poland and will be particularly desperate to win their final games.

That’s probably why Silvio Baldini has been allowed to keep Fiorentina midfielder Sher N’Dor, Roma’s Nicolo Pisilli and impressive Milan striker Alfacio Cisse.

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Roma's Nicolo Picsilli celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Serie A match between Roma and Cremona USA at the Stadio Olimpico on February 22, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paul Bruno/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Roma’s Nicolo Picsilli celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between Roma and Cremona USA at the Stadio Olimpico on February 22, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paul Bruno/Getty Images)

Italian National League List

goalkeeper: Marco Carnesechi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus);

Defender: Honest Ahano (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Riccardo Calafiore (Arsenal), Diego Coppola (FC Paris), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Di Marco (Inter Milan), Daniele Girardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddie Cuadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Calvini (Atalanta);

Midfield: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Brian Cristante (Roma), Isa Dubya (Sporting CP), Nicolo Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Fratesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tolina Gora (Torino), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tolina Gora (Torino);

forward: Cambiagi (Bologna), Esposito (Inter Milan), Esposito (Sassuolo), Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Kean (Como), Maldini (Cagliari), Raspadori (Atalanta), Scamacca (Atalanta), Vergara (Naples), Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Aliborg).

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