Gianluigi Donnarumma is ‘close to’ Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo after they left the Italy camp due to a betting investigation, but insists it will ‘not affect’ the team against Malta and England.
The Azzurri have crucial EURO 2024 qualifiers coming up against Malta at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari on Friday and then with England at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
Zaniolo and Tonali will not be there, having left the camp today after police informed the pair they were under formal investigation for illegal betting, confiscating their computers and smartphones.
“These were difficult hours,” captain Donnarumma told Sky Sport Italia.
“We are close to them on a human level, while in sporting terms it is disappointing to lose two strong players who could’ve given us a hand. We will always be close to them, as the coach says.”
Luciano Spalletti has replaced the pair by calling up Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci and Roma forward Stephan El Shaarawy.
Donnarumma has been promoted to Italy captain, as Ciro Immobile is injured and the PSG goalkeeper is the current squad member with the most senior caps.
He faces a tough task of bringing the group together after it was shaken by this earthquake, which continues to spread, as Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli is also under investigation, while today gossip columnist Fabrizio Corona named Roma full-back Nicola Zalewski as another professional player who has been betting.
“What happened will not affect us. We are professionals and must focus on the game,” assured Donnarumma.
“We had a great week in training, you can see the influence of the coach and his staff. We are super concentrated for tomorrow’s game and the trip to England.”
This will be Italy’s first match at the Stadio San Nicola since a 3-1 friendly defeat to France in 2016, which was historic both as the debut of coach Giampiero Ventura and the first senior cap for Donnarumma.
“Part of my history is there, I have great affection for Bari. It is a strange feeling to be back there. We can’t wait to play and the crowd will give us a big hand.”
Mattia Zaccagni has been left behind at the Coverciano camp awaiting the England game, while Federico Chiesa was sent home with injury.
Did we really have to dig this up now? We couldn’t wait until after these 2 games? Really? Well now they have all of the excuses for losing to England Tuesday.