Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti has confirmed his final 26-man squad for this summer’s European Championship in Germany.
Lazio’s 30-year-old goalkeeper Ivan Provedel, Torino’s Samuele Ricci and Bologna’s Ricardo Orsolini are the three players to be cut from Spalletti’s 29-man provisional squad.
Notable omissions from Spalletti’s squad include Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli, 26, and 34-year-old Lazio striker Ciro Immobile, who has scored 17 goals in 57 international appearances.
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho are the only two England-based players in the squad; with Vicario’s Spurs teammate Destiny Udogie missing the tournament through injury.
Nicolo Zaniolo, on loan at Aston Villa from Galatasaray, misses out, alongside Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and forward Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds United.
The inclusion of Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli is the most eye-catching aspect of the Italy squad.
In October 2023, the FIGC (Italian FA) imposed a seven-month ban on Fagioli, whose one cap for Italy came in in November 2022, for violating gambling rules. The midfielder made his first appearance since the ban elapsed during the 3-3 Serie A draw at Bologna earlier this week.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office of the FIGC had handed Fagioli a 12-month ban, five of which were commuted with the 23-year-old undertaking community service instead.
Fagioli’s community service entailed speaking at amateur clubs, federal training centres and charities that deal with addiction. He also underwent therapy for six months and was fined €12,500.
Italy start their Euro 2024 campaign against Albania on June 15, before playing Spain five days later and concluding their group stage campaign against Croatia on June 24.
Italy’s final 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Donnarumma (PSG), Vicario (Tottenham), Meret (Napoli),
Defenders: Acerbi (Inter), Bastoni (Inter), Darmian (Inter), Scalvini (Atalanta), Buongiorno (Torino), Mancini (Roma), Calafiori (Bologna), Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Bellanova (Torino), Dimarco (Inter), Cambiaso (Juventus)
Midfielders: Barella (Inter), Frattesi (Inter), Cristante (Roma), Pellegrini (Roma), Fagioli (Juventus), Jorginho (Arsenal), Folorunsho (Hellas Verona)
Forwards: Chiesa (Juventus), Raspadori (Napoli), Retegui (Genoa), Scamacca (Atalanta), Zaccagni (Lazio), El Shaarawy (Roma)
(Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
