Official: Mancini names Italy squad for Nations League games with 9 new faces

Official: Mancini names Italy squad for Nations League games with 9 new faces Roberto Mancini has named his 34-man Italy squad for the Nations League, including nine new faces like Michael Kayode, Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia, Alessandro Vergara and Mohamed Ali Zoma, along with some surprise returns. Italy coach Mancini has announced his squad list for the Azzurri’s next four Nations League games. The 61-year-old returned to the Italy bench at the end of July and signed a contract until 2030. Mancini’s new Italy vision PARMA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: (L-R) Leonardo Bonucci and Roberto Mancini attend the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images) The upcoming international break will last two weeks, during which the Azzurri will play twice against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye and visit both Belgium and France. The first game of Mancini’s second stint as Italy’s head coach is at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome against Belgium on Friday, September 25. Three days later, on September 28, they’ll visit Turkiye. On Friday, October 2, they’ll visit Zinedine Zidane’s France, and on October 5, they’ll host Turkiye at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna. LECCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Eddy Kouadio of AC Monza during the Serie A match between US Lecce and AC Monza at Stadio Via del Mare on September 13, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) There are nine new faces in the side , namely Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, Brentford full-back Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, Sporting talent Issa Doumbia, Sassuolo striker Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara, and Nurnberg hitman Mohamed Ali Zoma. NUREMBERG, GERMANY – AUGUST 09: Mohamed Ali Zoma of Nürnberg celebartes scoring the opening goal during the 2. Bundesliga 2026/27 match between 1. FC Nürnberg and SG Dynamo Dresden at Max-Morlock-Stadion on August 09, 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) There is also confirmation for Honest Ahanor, who has since joined Crystal Palace via Atalanta and Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund starlet Samuele Inacio after the friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece in June. Mancini recalls Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo, who hadn’t worn the Italy shirt since October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora’s last call was all the way back in March 2021. UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 18: Nicolò Zaniolo of Udinese looks on during the warm up ahead of the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Friuli on April 18, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) As expected, there is no call for Chelsea player Marco Palestra , who is yet to feature this season due to injury. The first training session at the Coverciano camp is scheduled for Monday September 21. PARMA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Alessandro Romano of Cagliari Calcio celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images) Italy squad for Nations League games 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), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta); Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham); Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Moise Kean (Como), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nurnberg).