Official: Dimarco drops out of Italy squad, new left-back called in

UDINE, ITALY - OCTOBER 14: Federico Dimarco of Italy looks on during the warm up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inter wing-back Federico Dimarco has withdrawn from the Italy national team squad and has been replaced by Aston Villa’s Matteo Ruggeri, the FIGC has confirmed. 

The Italy national team squad began to assemble on Sunday evening ahead of Nations League fixtures against Belgium (September 25), Turkiye (September 28), France (October 2) and Turkiye again (October 5). 

This is Roberto Mancini’s first national team camp following his re-appointment as CT earlier this summer. 

Mancini revealed his selections on Friday, handing first call-ups to nine new players including the likes of Michael Kayode, Antonio Vergara, Alessandro Romano, Issa Doumbia and Mohamed Ali Zoma. 

There have already been two alterations to the squad, as the FIGC confirmed on Sunday evening that Roma’s Bryan Cristante had dropped out due to a physical issue and that he had been replaced by Como’s Samuele Ricci. 

On Monday, the FIGC has also confirmed that Inter wing-back and reigning Serie A MVP Dimarco has also withdrawn from the squad and that he has been replaced by former Atalanta wideman Ruggeri, currently with Aston Villa in the Premier League. 

The FIGC has confirmed that Dimarco reported to Coverciano, but that he will now return home after undergoing a round of physical check-ups. 

“Following the medical test carried out at Coverciano, Inter defender Federico Domarco, 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 a statement on the FIGC website. 

“In his place, Roberto Mancini has called up Aston Villa defender Matteo Ruggeri.”

Latest Italy squad after Dimarco and Cristante withdrawals 

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); 

Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Moise Kean (Como), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nurnberg).