Federico Dimarco Withdraws from Italy's Nations League Squad

Federico Dimarco has pulled out of Italy’s Nations League squad, handing Aston Villa’s Matteo Ruggeri a late call-up as Roberto Mancini’s first camp back in charge is reshaped before a ball has been kicked.

The FIGC confirmed on Monday that the Inter wing-back, reigning 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 training centre, Dimarco was declared unavailable and sent home.

“Following the medical test carried out at Coverciano, Inter defender Federico Dimarco, who has not recovered from a physical issue he suffered with his club, is unavailable for the upcoming national team commitments and will leave the camp in the next few hours,” read the FIGC statement. “In his place, Roberto Mancini has called up Aston Villa defender Matteo Ruggeri.”

It is the second enforced change to Mancini’s list in 24 hours. On Sunday evening, Roma’s Bryan Cristante was withdrawn because of a physical issue and replaced by Como midfielder Samuele Ricci.

Mancini’s rebuilt Italy squad had only just begun to gather on Sunday night ahead of a demanding Nations League run: Belgium on September 25, Turkiye on September 28, France on October 2 and Turkiye again on October 5. This is the coach’s first camp since his re-appointment as CT earlier in the summer, and he had already signalled a fresh start with a bold selection.

On Friday he named a group featuring nine debut call-ups, including Michael Kayode, Antonio Vergara, Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia and Mohamed Ali Zoma. Now Ruggeri, the former Atalanta wideman currently at Aston Villa in the Premier League, steps into the frame on the left flank, where Dimarco had been expected to play a central role.

The defensive unit still leans on experience and high-level club form. Alessandro Bastoni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Gianluca Mancini headline a back line that now also includes Ruggeri, Kayode and Giorgio Scalvini, with Honest Ahanor, Riccardo Calafiori, Diego Coppola, Daniele Ghilardi and Eddy Kouadio completing a reshaped group.

In goal, Mancini can call on Marco Carnesecchi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Massimo Pessina and Guglielmo Vicario. Midfield remains anchored by Nicolò Barella, with Doumbia, Nicolò Fagioli, Davide Frattesi, Rolando Mandragora, Ricci, Romano and Sandro Tonali offering a mix of craft, energy and balance.

The injuries to Cristante and Dimarco have forced early adjustments, but they also clear a path. For Ruggeri, for Ricci, for the new faces Mancini has thrust into a squad that suddenly looks younger, more experimental, and under immediate scrutiny with Belgium and France looming.