Italy hand Liverpool star first ever international call up

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The international break will run from September 1 to September 9 as nations prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Several Liverpool players are expected to represent their countries during this period, including Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, and Alisson Becker.

New summer signing Giovanni Leoni has earned his first senior Italy call-up, with head coach Gennaro Gattuso including the 18-year-old in his squad for qualifiers against Estonia and Israel.

Leoni, who joined Liverpool from Parma earlier this month, has previously represented Italy at the Under-18 and Under-19 levels.

He enjoyed a breakthrough season at Parma last term, making 17 Serie A appearances.

If he features in either of Italy’s upcoming fixtures, Leoni will become the second-youngest Italian to play in a World Cup qualifier.

He will also become one of only seven players aged 18 or younger to make their senior debut for Italy this century.

The centre-back is yet to make his first appearance for Liverpool this season as he was an unused substitute in Monday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle.

Italy squad for Estonia and Israel matches:

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool), Gianluca Mancini (Roma)

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Nicolò Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)

Forwards: Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).

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