Italy injury news: Federico Dimarco withdraws from squad as uncapped Aston Villa man earns call-up

By Oliver Thomas | 21 Sep 2026 13:37, Last updated: 21 Sep 2026 13:37

Italy person announced that Inter Milan defender Federico Dimarco has been forced to retreat from Roberto Mancini’s squad up of their UEFA Nations League campaign.

Dimarco was initially selected successful a 34-man squad by Mancini, who is preparing for his archetypal nationalist squad campy since being re-appointed the Azzurri brag earlier this summer.

Italy are preparing for 4 Nations League fixtures implicit a two-week play successful September and October, but Dimarco volition present miss each 4 of those matches.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) person confirmed that the 28-year-old wing-back has been forced to retreat from the squad owed to injury.

A connection read: “Following a aesculapian introspection astatine the Federal Technical Centre successful Coverciano, Inter defender Federico Dimarco has been ruled retired of Italy’s upcoming fixtures aft failing to retrieve from the carnal contented helium sustained with his club.”

Dimarco volition permission Italy’s grooming campy contiguous (Monday) and caput backmost to Inter wherever helium volition person attraction astatine nine level.

This comes conscionable a time after Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante pulled retired of the squad owed to "a carnal problem", with Como midfielder Samuele Ricci called up arsenic his replacement.

Ruggeri 1 of 11 uncapped players successful Mancini’s Italy squad

Mancini has present called up Aston Villa defender Matteo Ruggeri, who has played 16 times astatine Under-21 level for Italy but is yet to gain his archetypal elder planetary headdress for the Azzurri.

The 24-year-old left-back joined Villa from Atletico Madrid successful the summertime for a reported £17m, signing a five-year contract.

Ruggeri has since played 4 times nether Unai Emery, including starts successful back-to-back victories implicit Coventry City successful the EFL Cup and Tottenham Hotspur successful the Premier League.

Born successful San Giovanni Bianco, Ruggeri is expected to initially supply screen for Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori who is considered Mancini’s first-choice left-sided defender astatine present.

Ruggeri is one of 11 uncapped players successful the Italy squad, who watched from location arsenic their state agonisingly missed a 3rd consecutive World Cup this summer.

Italy volition statesman their Nations League run astatine location to Belgium astatine Stadio Olimpico connected Friday, earlier travelling to Bursa to instrumentality connected Turkey adjacent Monday.

The Azzurri volition past look 2026 World Cup semi-finalists France successful Saint-Denis connected October 2, 3 days earlier welcoming Turkey to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara for their 4th fixture successful League A Group 1.