Mancini Names Bold 34-Man Squad for UEFA Nations League

Roberto Mancini has wasted no time.

In his first major act since being re-appointed Italy head coach, the 61-year-old has named a bold, 34-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign – and it reads like the start of a new era rather than a gentle reset.

A second Mancini project, a very different Italy

Mancini’s return, confirmed by the FIGC at the end of July after Gennaro Gattuso’s departure, comes on the back of another deep scar: Italy’s failure to reach a third straight World Cup. His first reign delivered Euro 2020 glory. The second begins under far darker clouds and with a very different dressing room.

Only six survivors from that Wembley triumph remain: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Nicolo Barella, Bryan Cristante and Giacomo Raspadori. The core that once carried Italy to the top of Europe has been stripped back to a skeleton.

The task ahead is immediate and unforgiving. Italy open their Nations League campaign in League A Group 1 with four games squeezed into the September/October window: Belgium at home, France away, and a double-header against Turkey.

No time for nostalgia. No room for sentiment.

Big names out: Palestra, Udogie, Chiesa headline absentees

The first shock runs through the omissions column.

Chelsea’s Marco Palestra, still working his way back from injury, is out despite having broken into the national side with two caps and a debut in March. Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie, who has not featured for Italy since June 2025, also misses out. So does Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, called up earlier this year but yet to play for the Azzurri since Euro 2024.

They are not alone. Juventus trio Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Andrea Cambiaso are all left at home. Napoli pair Leonardo Spinazzola and Alessandro Buongiorno drop out as well, along with Al-Qadsiah striker Mateo Retegui.

For a coach often associated with trust in familiar lieutenants, this is a ruthless line in the sand. Reputation, past service, even recent involvement – none of it has guaranteed a place.

Nine new faces: a fresh spine for the Azzurri

In their place, Mancini has opened the door to nine new players, a clear statement that the squad will be earned on form and potential rather than on name alone.

Brentford right-back Michael Kayode gets his first call and will immediately be in the frame to challenge on the flanks. At 18, Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina joins the senior group, a teenager thrown into the deep end of international football.

They are joined by Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi and Monza’s Eddy Kouadio, adding fresh legs and energy to the back line. Cagliari’s Alessandro Romano and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Issa Doumbia offer new options in the middle third, while Sassuolo’s Sebastiano Esposito and Napoli talent Antonio Vergara bring creativity and attacking edge.

Nurnberg’s Mohamed Ali Zoma completes the list of debutants, another young face stepping into a squad that suddenly looks far younger, far more experimental.

The message is unmistakable: nobody’s place is safe, and the door is wide open for a new generation.

Young guns stay in: Inacio and Ahanor keep their spots

Among the more intriguing names is Borussia Dortmund forward Samuele Inacio. Eligible for Brazil through his father, he has committed to the country of his birth and keeps his place in Mancini’s plans. His decision to nail his colours to the Italian mast could prove significant in the coming years.

He is joined again by fellow 18-year-old Honest Ahanor, on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea, another teenager trusted to grow within the senior set-up rather than on the fringes of it.

This isn’t a token gesture. These are players being embedded early, asked to learn on the job as Italy rebuilds.

Experience still at the core

For all the upheaval, Mancini has not abandoned experience.

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori is in, as are Inter’s Federico Dimarco and Nicolo Barella, both central figures at club and country level. Tottenham midfielder Sandro Tonali returns to offer structure and control in the middle of the pitch, while Como forward Moise Kean provides a familiar option in attack.

Around them, Donnarumma’s presence offers continuity in goal, Bastoni anchors the defence, and Cristante’s versatility remains a valuable asset. This is not a kids-only revolution; it is a carefully mixed squad, with seasoned internationals expected to carry the weight while the newcomers find their feet.

A brutal schedule to start the reboot

Italy will gather at Coverciano next Monday for their first training session under Mancini’s new regime. The preparation window is short, the stakes high.

On September 25, the Azzurri host Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico. Three days later they head to Bursa to face Turkey, a fixture that will test both the squad’s resilience and its depth.

Then comes the glamour and the grind: a trip to Saint-Denis on October 2 to meet 2026 World Cup semi-finalists France, a side that will expose any weakness, tactical or mental. Finally, Italy close this Nations League block on October 5, welcoming Turkey to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

Four games. One month. A new coach, an overhauled squad, and very little margin for error.

Mancini has drawn his line and chosen his men. The question now is simple: can this new-look Italy grow up fast enough under the glare of Europe’s elite?