Roberto Mancini's New Era with Italy: A Bold Squad for Nations League

Roberto Mancini has wasted no time in putting his stamp back on Italy.

Barely weeks after returning to the Azzurri bench on a contract running through to 2030, the coach has named a bold 34-man squad for the upcoming Nations League campaign – and it reads like the start of a new cycle rather than a gentle refresh.

Italy face a demanding two-week block: a double-header against Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye, plus heavyweight clashes with Belgium and France. The new era officially begins at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Friday, September 25, when Belgium come to town.

Nine debutants signal a reset

Mancini has ripped up the comfort blanket and gone for youth and new blood, handing first call-ups to nine players.

Between the posts, Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina gets his chance, a clear nod towards succession planning in a position Italy have traditionally guarded carefully. At the back, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi and Brentford full-back Michael Kayode are rewarded for their club form, offering fresh energy and versatility in the defensive line.

They are joined by Monza defender Eddy Kouadio, while Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano and Sporting CP prospect Issa Doumbia inject new ideas and legs into the middle of the pitch.

Up front, the shake-up is even more striking. Sassuolo striker Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nurnberg striker Mohamed Ali Zoma all step into the senior setup for the first time, boosting an attacking unit that has long been under scrutiny.

Amid all the change, Mancini has kept faith with some of the newer faces he had already begun to integrate. Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor and Borussia Dortmund forward Samuele Inacio, both involved in recent friendlies, keep their places as the coach looks to build continuity around his fresh core.

Big returns and one notable omission

The squad list is not just about debuts. It also marks a homecoming for several players who have drifted away from the national team picture.

Fiorentina midfielder Nicolò Fagioli and Udinese attacker Nicolò Zaniolo are both recalled, ending absences that stretch back to October 2024. Their return underlines Mancini’s belief that, if the talent is there, the door is never fully closed.

One of the biggest surprises is the name of Torino midfielder Rolando Mandragora. He last pulled on the Italy shirt in March 2021, but now earns a recall as Mancini looks to deepen his options in central midfield with a player capable of balancing aggression and control.

At the other end of the spectrum, Chelsea defender Marco Palestra misses out, as widely expected. Still sidelined by an ongoing injury and yet to play this season, he has been left out of the selection as Mancini prioritises fitness and rhythm for a demanding run of fixtures.

A brutal schedule for a new-look Italy

The squad will report to Coverciano on Monday, September 21, for their first training session of this new chapter. From there, the pace barely drops.

After hosting Belgium in Rome on September 25, Italy travel to face Türkiye on September 28 in the first of two meetings with Montella’s side. Then comes a marquee test: a trip to face Zinedine Zidane’s France on Friday, October 2, a match that will offer a sharp measure of where this revamped Azzurri side really stands.

The window closes back on home soil, with Italy welcoming Türkiye to the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on October 5.

New contracts, new faces, old names returning to the fold and a brutal run of fixtures: Mancini has set the tone. Now the question is simple — how quickly can this reshaped Italy turn promise into results?