Baldini hints Italy could take Donnarumma and Esposito to 2028 Olympics | OneFootball

Interim Italy national team head coach Silvio Baldini has explained why he has called Gianluigi Donnarumma and Francesco Pio Esposito into his youthful squad for the upcoming international friendlies in June and has hinted that both could be included in the nation’s Olympic squad in 2028 should they qualify.

Baldini was called in to temporarily take over as head coach of the Italy national team following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso immediately after the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March.

He has been tasked with leading the Italy national team into a pair of meaningless friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece at the beginning of June and has decided to name a squad almost entirely made up of young players he knows from his regular role in charge of the U21s.

Of the 24 players that Baldini has selected, only Donnarumma, Marco Palestra, Niccolo Pisilli and Esposito have previously been capped by the senior Italy side.

What Baldini said about Donnarumma and Esposito and potential Olympic involvement with Italy

It was widely reported that Donnarumma had ‘made himself available’ for the June friendlies, despite the disappointment of missing out on a World Cup spot back in March. It was slightly more of a surprise to see Esposito included, given that he is now firmly considered a senior member of the squad for both Inter and Italy after an impressive breakthrough campaign in 2025-26.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 17: Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter is challenged by Yerry Mina and Matteo Prati of Cagliari during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Baldini spoke about the inclusion of both players during his press conference on Friday, and hinted that there is a chance that both are called up for the 2028 Olympics in the event that Italy qualifies.

“I’ve called two senior level players like Donnarumma and Pio Esposito into the group because I see the possibility of having these players, also ahead of the Olympics. The two of them fall under this possibility,” Baldini said on Friday (via TMW).

The next Olympic Games will take place in the United States in the summer of 2028. Three European nations will compete in the football tournament, and these slots will be determined by the final rankings of the 2027 U21 European Championship.

Since 1996, teams competing at the Olympics are permitted to name their regular ‘U23’ squads, but are allowed to name three overage players, hence why Baldini says that Donnarumma and Esposito could potentially be included for Olympic selection.

Baldini went on to confirm that Donnarumma was the only member of Italy’s regular senior squad that voluntarily made himself available for these upcoming friendlies in June.

“Only Donnarumma contacted me giving me his availability. The message is clear: Italian football wants to see change. I’m convinced that the boys will do very well. We’ve seen that it’s a cohesive group with the U21s and there is ample room for improvement.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy interact after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“In addition, we also have the inclusion of two great players in Donnarumma and Pio Esposito.”

But, was Baldini ‘disappointed’ by the fact that Donnarumma was the only Italy player to reach out to him?

“No, I think the wound was still too big after Bosnia,” Baldini replied. “Even if they had called me, I would have limited the call-ups to those two (Donnarumma and Esposito), with a view to my future work. Sometimes it’s better to sit back and not participate.”