Antonio Conte has called up Andrea Pirlo to the Italy squad for Euro 2016 qualifying, in place of the injured Giacomo Bonaventura.
Antonio Conte has called up Andrea Pirlo to the Italy squad for Euro 2016 qualifying, in place of the injured Giacomo Bonaventura.
The Milan winger and Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti were confirmed this morning with injuries that Conte and chief medic Enrico Castellacci admitted left them as doubts for the upcoming matches with Azerbaijan and Malta.
Whilst it was Verratti’s position believed most under threat due to an ankle injury, the Italian Football Federation confirm that Bonaventura’s muscular issue has seen him withdraw first, and the CT call up Pirlo in his place.
The Juventus midfielder has just returned to action after two months out with a hip injury and this call represents his first under his former Bianconero boss, since reversing his decision to retire from representing the Azzurri after the World Cup.
Bonaventura withdraws after tests revealed a mild edema in his right thigh, enough to rule him out of contention for this fortnight’s fixtures.
For the time being, the FIGC confirm that Verratti remains with the squad.