Leoni, Liverpool’s young prospect, receives his first call-up to Italy

Gattuso calls up young prospects for the Italian national team

The new Italian coach, Gennaro Gattuso, has announced his first call-up, highlighting the inclusion of young talents who could bring freshness to the team. Among the new additions, three players stand out as they receive their first call to represent the national team. Liverpool’s 18-year-old central defender, Giovanni Leoni, is one of the young footballers who have been called up for the first time. Alongside him, Inter Milan’s forward, Francesco Pio Esposito, and Bologna’s midfielder, Giovanni Fabbian, also join the Azzurri. This is Gattuso’s first call-up since taking over the position in June, following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti.

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Italy faces the urgency of qualifying for the World Cup, having failed to do so in the last two editions. The upcoming matches against Estonia in Bergamo and against Israel in Hungary will be crucial for Italian aspirations. Italy has three points in two matches. Norway leads Group I with 12 points in four matches, followed by Israel with six points in three matches.

Giovanni Leoni has yet to debut for Liverpool since his arrival from Parma.Leoni joined Liverpool this month, coming from Parma, but has not yet had the opportunity to play with the Premier League champions. Gianluca Scamacca, Atalanta’s forward, returns to the call-up after overcoming a series of injuries, as does Roma’s central defender, Gianluca Mancini, who had been excluded by Spalletti. Mateo Retegui was included despite his recent transfer to Saudi Arabia, as was Sandro Tonali, Newcastle midfielder, despite a shoulder injury.

Italy’s Call:

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham).

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool), Gianluca Mancini (Roma).Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Nicolò Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).Forwards: Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atlético Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).