Mancini's Bold Italy Squad: Maldini Returns, Palestra Left Out
Roberto Mancini has never been afraid of a bold call. His latest Italy squad, named for a demanding run of Nations League fixtures, underlines it again: controversy, comebacks and a couple of cold shoulders all wrapped into one list.
Italy face Belgium on September 25, Turkiye on September 28, France on October 2 and a second meeting with the Turks on October 5. The group stage then closes with France on November 12 and Belgium on November 15. Six games, high stakes, and a squad that already has people talking.
Maldini in the spotlight
The headline name is Daniel Maldini. Not for his form, but for the storm around him.
There were serious doubts that Mancini would include him after his recent car incident, in which his driving licence was suspended for testing just over the legal alcohol limit. The situation escalated when reports claimed he had failed a drugs test as well. Those stories have since been disproved, with all toxicology tests returning negative.
Mancini has decided not to turn his back. Maldini is in. Cagliari have taken the same stance, making it clear they expect him to start their next Serie A match this weekend. For player and coach, it is a calculated step into a spotlight that will be unforgiving if things go wrong.
Palestra left waiting
On the other side of the ledger sits Marco Palestra. The Chelsea player was widely tipped to miss out, and Mancini has followed that logic.
Palestra is still waiting for his competitive debut with Chelsea after suffering an injury in pre-season. With no minutes and no rhythm, the door has stayed shut for now. For a player looking to break into the national team picture, this international window comes too soon.
Nine new faces and a blast from the past
Beyond the headline decisions, Mancini has freshened up his options with nine new faces. The squad has the feel of a group in transition, but it is not just about youth. There are returns, and one of them is striking.
Rolando Mandragora is back. That name has not appeared on an Italy team sheet since March 2021, a gap of more than five years between call-ups. The Torino midfielder, now 29, owns just a single senior cap, earned in June 2018 during a 3-1 friendly defeat to France. From nearly-forgotten debutant to surprise recall, his story is one of quiet persistence finally rewarded.
Fagioli and Zaniolo step back into the frame
Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo also re-emerge after long absences.
Neither had been called up since October 2024. Fagioli, now at Fiorentina, has seven senior caps and has often been seen as a midfielder for the future. Mancini has decided that future starts again now.
Zaniolo’s relationship with the national team has always been dramatic. Mancini famously handed him his first call-up before he had even played a single Serie A match. He has since collected 19 caps, the latest coming in a friendly against Ecuador in March 2024, though his last competitive appearance dates back to November 2023 against Ukraine. For a player who has lived through injuries, setbacks and constant scrutiny, this recall feels like another chance to finally establish continuity in an Italy shirt.
Big calls, bigger expectations
This squad is not a cautious one. It carries risk: a player under legal and media scrutiny, a midfielder returning from the international wilderness, talents trying to relaunch stalled national-team careers, and a notable omission in Palestra.
Mancini has chosen personality over safety, potential over comfort. With Belgium and France looming in a Nations League group that offers no hiding place, the question is simple: will these gambles harden Italy for the challenges ahead, or expose the cracks he has chosen to live with?
