Luciano Spalletti has called up Bologna star Riccardo Orsolini for EURO 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England, because Mattia Zaccagni and Lazio teammate Ivan Provedel pulled out through injury.
The Azzurri continue their qualifying campaign by hosting Malta on October 14 and then visiting England at Wembley Stadium on October 17.
Spalletti had named his squad, but was forced to make some changes following this weekend’s Serie A fixtures.
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri had mentioned that Zaccagni had an issue and he has pulled out of international duty, along with goalkeeper Provedel, who sustained a knock to the hip.
With that in mind, Orsolini has been added to the squad, able to play wide right or left in a trident attack and scoring four goals in his last two Serie A games for Bologna.
The 26-year-old has only three senior caps for Italy, but scored two goals and provided two assists.
Italy had already been forced to do without injured Ciro Immobile of Lazio and Genoa striker Mateo Retegui.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Inter), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Forwards: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Moise Kean (Juventus), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Nicolò Zaniolo (Aston Villa).
I find it difficult to believe that Romagnoli didn’t have a spot there, considering that the names ahead are: Mancini, Acerbi, Bastoni and Gatti.
Spaletti what are you thinking ? You bring Gatti for a friendly coz against England he will definitely score an own goal. Don’t forget, you heard it first from me.
I agree, Burky. Acerbi too.. what’s he thinking?
Where is Politano??!?
I would have brought kayode. He is young but he played so well against Napoli