Mancini names nine debutants in first squad of second Italy era

Roberto Mancini has unveiled a 34‑man Italy squad featuring nine debutants as he begins his second spell in charge of the Azzurri. The 61‑year‑old replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned after Italy’s World Cup play‑off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. Mancini previously led Italy from 2018 to 2023, winning Euro 2020, and now opens his new tenure with four Nations League Group A1 matches in 11 days: Belgium in Rome on 25 September, Turkey in Bursa on the 28th, France in Paris on 2 October, and Turkey again in Bologna on the 5th.

The nine first‑timers include goalkeeper Massimo Pessina, defenders Daniele Ghilardi, Michael Kayode and Eddy Kouadio, midfielders Alessandro Romano and Issa Doumbia, and forwards Sebastiano Esposito, Antonio Vergara and Mohamed Ali Zoma. Teenagers Honest Ahanor and Samuele Inacio are retained after June friendlies, while Nicolò Fagioli, Nicolò Zaniolo and Rolando Mandragora return to the squad.