Official: Cristante drops out of Italy squad as Mancini calls in immediate replacement

Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante has withdrawn from the Italy national team squad due to injury and has been replaced by Como 's Samuele Ricci , the FIGC has confirmed.

Mancini announced a squad of 34 players on Friday ahead of an extra-long international break that will see Italy take on Belgium , Turkiye, France and Turkiye again in the Nations League group stage.

Cristante was one of eight players that were called up by Mancini for his first camp back in charge of the Nazionale, but he has since dropped out with an unspecified physical problem, the FIGC have confirmed in a statement.

BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 29: Bryan Cristante of Italy controls the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between Switzerland and Italy at Olympiastadion on June 29, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)