Gennaro Gattuso Names His First Italy Squad
Gennaro Gattuso has announced his first squad as head coach of the Italy national team, following his appointment as successor to Luciano Spalletti. The former AC Milan icon wasted no time in making bold decisions, calling up three uncapped players for the upcoming international window.
Among the newcomers is 20-year-old Francesco Pio Esposito, a promising striker from Inter Milan, alongside 22-year-old midfielder Giovanni Fabbian from Bologna and 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni, who recently completed a high-profile €30 million move from Parma to Liverpool.
Gattuso takes charge at a turbulent time for the Azzurri. Italy famously failed to qualify for both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, and their start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign has been far from convincing. Under Spalletti, Italy suffered a 3-0 defeat to Norway before bouncing back with a 2-0 win over Moldova. Now, Gattuso faces immediate pressure to secure results and steady the ship.
There’s continuity in leadership, however, with Gianluigi Donnarumma retained as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. Midfield regulars Nicolò Barella, Davide Frattesi, Sandro Tonali, and striker Gianluca Scamacca also return to the fold. Notably, Mateo Retegui has also been called up despite his recent transfer to Saudi side Al-Qadsiah.
Italy are set to play two key fixtures in September — against Estonia on September 5 and Israel on September 8 — as Gattuso looks to stamp his identity on the squad and reignite Italy’s World Cup hopes.
Italy Squad – September International Break (28 Players)
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur).
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool), Gianluca Mancini (AS Roma), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Nicolò Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna).
Forwards: Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter Milan), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta).
