Raoul Bellanova, Michael Folorunsho, and Lorenzo Lucca have received their first call ups to the Italy senior squad for March’s friendlies in the United States.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti has named a 28-player squad for the fixtures against Venezuela and Ecuador.
Forwards Gianluca Scammacca and Ciro Immobile both miss out once more, having not been included in November’s squad.
Tottenham left-back Destiny Udogie returns to the squad after not being selected in November due to a hamstring injury. Teammate Guglielmo Vicario, yet to be capped at senior level, is also included.
Midfielder Folorunsho, 26, has spent the season on loan at Verona from Napoli, making 26 Serie A appearances and scoring four goals. He is also eligible to represent Nigeria.
Torino right-back Bellanova, 23, has featured 27 times in Serie A this term, providing a goal and five assists. Forward Lucca has spent the campaign on loan at Udinese from Pisa and has scored seven times in 28 league appearances.
The Italy squad fly to Miami on Tuesday before facing Venezuela at the Chase Stadium in Florida on Thursday March 21 — marking the first ever meeting between the two sides.
Italy then face Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Sunday March 24.
It is the first time Italy have played in the U.S. since 2008.
The fixtures are part of Euro 2024 preparations for Spalletti’s side. The defending European champions have been drawn in Group B with Spain, Croatia and Albania for this summer’s tournament in Germany.
Italy squad in full
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina), Michael Folorunsho (Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Jorginho (Arsenal), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Roma)
Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolo Zaniolo (Aston Villa)
(Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
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