Mancini: ‘Kean out for Italy, cannot underestimate Turkiye’

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 25: Moise Kean of Italy in action during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Belgium at Stadio Olimpico on September 25, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)

Moise Kean has left the Italy camp due to injury, so Roberto Mancini hints Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca ‘could start’ against Turkiye tomorrow.

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on Monday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

The Azzurri started the Nations League group with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, then won 4-1 in Bursa before the 1-1 draw with France at the Stade de France.

There were reports today that Kean was not training with the rest of the squad and it is now confirmed he will not participate in the fourth match of this international break.

Mancini looks to Italy after Kean

“Moise is not in good shape, he has not recovered, so he will go home this evening,” confirmed Mancini on Sky Sport Italia.

“We are trying a few different players, as there have been several games close together, that creates fatigue. It’s possible that Scamacca could start in place of Pio Esposito, as he has similar characteristics, but we have many players.”

There is also expected to be rotation in midfield, where the same trio started the last two games.

The idea is to bring Nicolò Barella and Alessandro Romano back into the starting XI, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo tipped to play at right-back instead of Michael Kayode.

Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye are rock bottom of Nations League Group A after losing all three matches so far, scoring one goal and conceding eight.

“Turkiye are a strong team, it is not a game to be taken for granted,” warned Mancini.

“The important thing was to give this team a sense of solidity and for them to regain faith in themselves. We have absolutely no risk of underestimating our opponents tomorrow.”