Gianluca Mancini doubt for Italy’s WC playoff after Roma injury | OneFootball

Roma defender Gianluca Mancini is a doubt for Italy’s crucial World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland following an injury scare during club duty.

According to TMW, the center-back was forced off at half-time during Roma’s recent 1-0 victory after sustaining what appears to be a calf strain. The injury has caused immediate concern for the national team staff ahead of Thursday’s high-stakes fixture.

Despite the physical setback, Mancini is expected to travel to Coverciano to join the Azzurri training camp. His availability for the upcoming matches remains highly uncertain, and he will undergo specialized medical assessments tomorrow to determine the severity of the strain.

For Gennaro Gattuso, losing an experienced defensive option like Mancini would be a significant blow as Italy prepares for a must-win path toward World Cup qualification. Matteo Gabbia is already out of the squad due to an injury, which leaves the Azzurri short of defensive options, with Gio Di Lorenzo sidelined too.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN