Milan trio Davide Calabria, Manuel Locatelli and Patrick Cutrone are included in Luigi Di Biagio’s first squad back with Italy Under 21s.
Di Biagio took caretaker charge of the senior team for their friendlies against Argentina and England in March, but Roberto Mancini’s recent appointment let former Roma midfielder resume his commitment to the Azzurrini.
“My spirit hasn’t changed,” the Coach said at a Press conference.
Milan trio Davide Calabria, Manuel Locatelli and Patrick Cutrone are included in Luigi Di Biagio’s first squad back with Italy Under 21s.
Di Biagio took caretaker charge of the senior team for their friendlies against Argentina and England in March, but Roberto Mancini’s recent appointment let former Roma midfielder resume his commitment to the Azzurrini.
“My spirit hasn’t changed,” the Coach said at a Press conference.
“On the contrary, if possible I will now try to give something more to help prepare these lads in the best way possible to reach the national team.
“My working style never changes and we are not starting from zero. I’ve been in constant contact with [Alberigo] Evani and with all the other coaches within the National Team set-up, therefore, it will just be a case of continuation.
“I will enjoy these next few matches in the same manner as always, preparing for them in the best possible fashion.
“My aim to prepare well for these two games and help those players who could be taking part in the 2019 Euros. That said, no-one ever knows what will happen in life.
“As for Mancini, we’ve met up and I told him straight away that he has my full support, whether that be in regard to the squad, the federation’s dynamics or the organisation of the national teams.”
Italy U21s face Portugal on Friday, before travelling to France four days later.
Goalkeepers: Alessandro Plizzari (Ternana), Simone Scuffet (Udinese), Lorenzo Montipo (Novara)
Defenders: Claud Adjapong (Sassuolo), Davide Calabria (Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Atalanta), Filippo Romagna (Cagliari), Elio Capradossi (Roma), Sebastiano Luperto (Empoli), Kevin Bonifazi (Torino), Raoul Petretta (Basilea), Federico Dimarco (Sion), Giuseppe Pezzella (Udinese)
Midfielders: Manuel Locatelli (Milan), Alessandro Murgia (Lazio), Fabio Depaoli (Chievo Verona), Luca Valzania (Pescara), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari), Matteo Pessina (Spezia)
Forwards: Daniele Verde (Verona), Christian Capone (Pescara), Federico Bonazzoli (Spal), Patrick Cutrone (Milan), Vittorio Parigini (Benevento), Gianluca Scamacca (Cremonese), Enrico Brignola (Benevento)