Italy’s October Squad: Spalletti Drops Locatelli, Gatti in Favor of New Talent

Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti has announced the list of 23 players for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Belgium and Israel. Spalletti’s team for October features several new faces as the EURO 2020 winners bid to uphold their perfect start to Group A2.

New Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has received his maiden Italy call-up. However, the ex-Monza star should play second fiddle to senior ace Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint-Germain. Speaking of Monza, Daniel Maldini has perhaps surprisingly made the cut.

The 22-year-old playmaker could register his debut for Italy over 22 years after his father Paolo made his last Gli Azzurri appearance. Maldini graduated from the Milan Academy. But after failing to land regular first-team action at Stadio San Siro, he left for Stadio Brianteo in the summer.

Maldini’s former teammate, Matteo Gabbia, has earned his first-ever Italy call-up following a remarkable rise at Milan under Paulo Fonseca. He should fill the vacancy left by Federico Gatti’s omission. That’s a strange choice from Spalletti, given the Juventus defender’s sterling form.

Spalletti also left Manuel Locatelli out of his Italy squad for October’s fixtures. Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa and new Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni are also outside the team.

Another newcomer is Roma prodigy Nicolo Pisilli. The highly-rated youngster scored a winner against Venezia last weekend after making his senior breakthrough at the start of this season. But competition for places in this Italy midfield cannot be more fiercest.

Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Inter’s Davide Frattesi are on Spalletti’s list. After helping Italy see off France and Israel in September, Torino’s rising star, Samuele Ricci, has seemingly convinced the former Napoli manager to rely on him more heavily.