Baldini calls fresh new Italy squad with 3 Borussia Dortmund talents | OneFootball

Interim Italy coach Silvio Baldini has called up a practically new squad for friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, including Samuele Inacio and Filippo Mane of Borussia Dortmund.

The Azzurri organised the matches after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, losing the play-offs on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Gennaro Gattuso resigned and with no new coach in place yet, Italy brought in Under-21 coach Baldini for these two friendly fixtures.

They are on June 3 in Luxembourg and June 7 in Crete.

EMPOLI – MARCH 26: Silvio Baldini manager of Italy U21 looks on during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Baldini said there was no point calling in players from the usual Azzurri squad, so he would only focus on younger figures, many of them getting their first opportunity at senior level.

The exception is captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, as the Manchester City goalkeeper is seen as the ‘guide’ to the others, as the squad has an average age of 20 years and six months.

BERGAMO – MARCH 26: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy celebrates his team’s first goal during 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. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Others who already featured for the Nazionale are Pietro Comuzzo, Marco Palestra, Niccolò Pisilli and Francesco Pio Esposito.

Notable new faces include Davide Bartesaghi from Milan, Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor and Francesco Camarda.

Also worth pointing out is just how many play abroad, with Fabio Chiarodia at Borussia Monchengladbach, Filippo Mane, Luca Reggiani and Samuele Inacio all at Borussia Dortmund, and Luca Koleosho for Paris FC.

Italy squad for Luxembourg and Greece games

Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);

Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Monchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund);

Midfielders: Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma);

Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC).