Brescia youngster Sandro Tonali is in Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad, but Mario Balotelli and Andrea Belotti miss out.
The Azzurri face Portugal in a crucial Nations League match later this month, before a friendly against the U.S.A in Belgium.
It was reported this week that Tonali, dubbed the new Andrea Pirlo, would be given his first call-up and he is in Mancini’s 27-man squad.
Also called for the first time are Sassuolo’s Stefano Sensi and Vincenzo Grifo of Hoffenheim.
Brescia youngster Sandro Tonali is in Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad, but Mario Balotelli and Andrea Belotti miss out.
The Azzurri face Portugal in a crucial Nations League match later this month, before a friendly against the U.S.A in Belgium.
It was reported this week that Tonali, dubbed the new Andrea Pirlo, would be given his first call-up and he is in Mancini’s 27-man squad.
Also called for the first time are Sassuolo’s Stefano Sensi and Vincenzo Grifo of Hoffenheim.
Andrea Belotti and Mario Balotelli both miss out, with Cagliari’s Leonardo Pavoletti and Inter winger Matteo Politano returning.
Mattia Perin's lack of playing time for Juventus appears to have cost him, with Alessio Cragno getting the nod ahead of him.
There were doubts about his Juve teammate Federico Bernardeschi, who has been struggling with an ankle knock, but he has been included.
Bianconeri captain Giorgio Chiellini will win his 100th cap if he plays either of the two matches.
Italy squad for Portugal and U.S.A:
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno [Cagliari], Gianluigi Donnarumma [Milan], Salvatore Sirigu [Torino]
Defenders: Cristiano Biraghi [Fiorentina], Leonardo Bonucci [Juventus], Giorgio Chiellini [Juventus], Mattia De Sciglio [Juventus], Emerson Palmieri Dos Santos [Chelsea], Alessandro Florenzi [Roma], Alessio Romagnoli [Milan], Daniele Rugani [Juventus]
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella [Cagliari], Roberto Gagliardini [Inter], Frello Filho Jorge Luiz Jorginho [Chelsea], Lorenzo Pellegrini [Roma], Stefano Sensi [Sassuolo], Sandro Tonali [Brescia], Marco Verratti [Paris Saint-Germain]
Forwards: Domenico Berardi [Sassuolo], Federico Bernardeschi [Juventus], Federico Chiesa [Fiorentina], Vincenzo Grifo [Hoffenheim], Ciro Immobile [Lazio], Lorenzo Insigne [Napoli], Kevin Lasagna [Udinese], Leonardo Pavoletti [Cagliari], Matteo Politano [Inter]