Luciano Spalletti did not call up Willy Gnonto and Cesare Casadei for games against Venezuela and Ecuador, but they can still hope to play at Euro 2024.
Spalletti explained his picks for international friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador during a press conference on Monday.
He said Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante was not part of the team because he needed to undergo treatment in Trigoria, but mentioned other players, including Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, his teammate Giovanni Fabbian, Leeds striker Gnonto, Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei and Cagliari‘s Gianluca Gaetano.
“We would’ve’ had Riccardo Calafiori here, but the Under-21s are playing two qualifiers and we have friendlies, so am I supposed to weaken them with all the players at my disposal? The same goes for Giovanni Fabbian, Willy Gnonto and Cesare Casadei, while Gianluca Gaetano is injured,” said the Azzurri boss.
Spalletti’s words mean all these players will be monitored before the European Championship in the summer. The Azzurri CT had already said in January that Calafiori was ‘ready’ for the senior national team.
Gnonto and Casadei stats for Leeds, Chelsea and Leicester City
Gnonto has been in explosive form for Championship side Leeds United since the start of the year. He had only bagged one goal in the first part of 2023-24 but he has netted six times in 11 appearances in the new year, including back-to-back goals against Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall in the latest two outings.
On the other hand, Casadei returned to Chelsea in January after a six-month loan at Leicester City but has only made three Premier League appearances as a substitute with the Blues. The 20-year-old midfielder scored three goals and provided two assists in 25 appearances with Leicester City in the first part of 2023-24.