Camarda forced to withdraw from Italy U21 squad after head trauma | OneFootball

Lecce striker Francesco Camarda has been diagnosed with head trauma and forced to withdraw from the Italy Under-21 squad, replaced by Genoa’s Jeff Ekhator.

The 18-year-old had been in the starting XI for last night’s 2-0 Serie A defeat to his parent club Milan and went off at half time.

Camarda suffered memory loss

GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Francesco Camarda of Lecce is challenged by Patrizio Masini of Genoa during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and US Lecce at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

It was only later that Lecce coach Eusebio Di Francesco reveal this was a forced decision, because after an accidental knock to the head, Camarda had memory loss and didn’t remember something that had happened moments earlier.

The teenager was taken to hospital for tests and diagnosed with head trauma.

This means Camarda had to withdraw from the Italy Under-21 squad, where he had been due to play in the European Championship qualifiers against Montenegro on September 5 and North Macedonia on September 9.

Instead, Genoa striker Ekhator was promoted from the Under-20 squad to new coach Silvio Baldini’s side.

Italy Under-21 squad

Goalkeepers: Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Edoardo Motta (Reggiana), Lapo Nava (Cremonese);

Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia M’gladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Riyad Idrissi (Cagliari), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Marianucci (Napoli), Brando Moruzzi (Empoli), Marco Palestra (Cagliari);

Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Las Palmas), Tommaso Berti (Cesena), Matteo Dagasso (Pescara), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma);

Forwards: Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Seydou Fini (Genoa), Luca Koleosho (Espanyol), Simone Pafundi (Sampdoria), Antonio Raimondo (Frosinone), Lorenzo Venturino (Genoa), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa)