Federico Dimarco Exits Italy’s Nations League Squad: Matteo Ruggeri Called Up
Federico Dimarco has been forced out of Italy’s Nations League squad, with Aston Villa wing-back Matteo Ruggeri drafted in as his replacement.
The FIGC confirmed on Monday that the Inter left-sided defender, recently crowned Serie A MVP, reported to Coverciano but failed to shake off a physical problem picked up with his club. After medical tests at the national team’s training base, he was sent home and ruled out of the upcoming run of fixtures.
Italy have a demanding schedule ahead: Belgium on September 25, Turkiye on September 28, France on October 2, then Turkiye again on October 5. It is Roberto Mancini’s first camp since his re-appointment as CT earlier in the summer, and it has already turned into a juggling act.
The first blow came on Sunday evening. Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante pulled out with a physical issue, with Como’s Samuele Ricci called up in his place. Twenty-four hours later, another reshuffle was needed on the left flank.
“The medical test carried out at Coverciano showed Inter defender Federico Dimarco has not recovered from a physical issue he suffered with his club,” read the FIGC statement. “He is unavailable for the upcoming national team commitments and will leave the camp in the next few hours. In his place, Roberto Mancini has called up Aston Villa defender Matteo Ruggeri.”
For Ruggeri, formerly of Atalanta and now in the Premier League with Aston Villa, it is a significant opportunity at a time when Mancini is already opening the door to fresh faces.
The coach’s squad list, announced on Friday, was a clear reset. Nine players received their first senior call-up, including Michael Kayode, Antonio Vergara, Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia and Mohamed Ali Zoma, underlining a push to refresh the group around a core of established names.
Updated Squad
Despite the withdrawals of Dimarco and Cristante, the updated squad still carries a strong spine.
- Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus).
- Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Matteo Ruggeri (Aston Villa), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).
- Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).
Mancini now heads into a pivotal Nations League block without his first-choice left wing-back but with another young alternative stepping into the frame. How quickly Ruggeri adapts to the Azzurri stage may tell plenty about Italy’s depth on the flanks for the rest of this cycle.
