Matteo Gabbia has pulled out of the Italy squad due to an injury and has been replaced by Daniele Rugani, it has been confirmed.
Italy boss Luciano Spalletti had rewarded Gabbia for an impressive personal campaign with Milan by giving him a call-up to the national team, and he was expected to be a contender for their two games over the break.
Gabbia forced to return home
The Italian national team confirmed on social media that Gabbia has left the training camp at Coverciano, being replaced by Daniele Rugani.
More specifically, the 25-year-old sustained a calf injury during a training session on Tuesday will therefore play no part in the World Cup qualifying matches against Norway and Moldova over the next week.
Matteo Gabbia Milan
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
The first game takes place on Friday June 6 in Oslo before the Azzurri will then host Moldova at the Mapei Stadium on June 9. It is not the first change that Spalletti has had to make compared to the original squad named.
As Football Italia recall, Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri replaced Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli, then Francesco Acerbi refused to play and Manuel Locatelli sustained an ankle injury in training. Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori was not called up due to a bruised knee.