Italy manager Roberto Mancini has split his squad ahead of an upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against Turkey, leaving Nicolò Barella and nine other players behind at the Coverciano technical center to manage a demanding international calendar. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed that the group remaining in Florence will skip the trip to Paris for a preparatory training session before rejoining the squad in Bologna.
Squad Management for a Busy International Schedule
Mancini opted to divide his roster to optimize physical resources during an intense stretch of fixtures. The split ensures that vital squad members avoid unnecessary travel fatigue between high-stakes matches against European opponents.
The players remaining at Coverciano alongside Barella include Gianluca Mancini, Samuele Ricci, Daniel Maldini, Diego Coppola, Honest Ahanor, Mohamed Zoma, Samuele Inacio, Eddy Kouadio, and Massimo Pessina, as reported by Calciomercatonews.com. Rather than a disciplinary omission, the federation emphasized that the setup is purely tactical and physical management.
Specialized Training Staff at Coverciano
While the traveling squad heads to France, the group in Florence is not taking a standard break. The FIGC announced that a dedicated contingent of technical and performance staff stayed behind at the Federal Technical Center to oversee specialized workouts. Coaches Massimo Maccarone, Cristiano Lupatelli, Giulio Nuciari, and Luca Bossi are directing the training sessions alongside dedicated medical and physiotherapeutic personnel.
The contingent remaining at Coverciano will resume full group preparations alongside the returning players to prepare for the upcoming fixture against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey side scheduled in Bologna.
Match Schedule and Next Steps
The Italian national team faces a demanding slate of matches in the Nations League group stage. Following fixtures in Paris, the Azzurri will return to Italian soil to complete their preparations for the second encounter against Turkey. The coaching staff plans to reunite the full squad in training to integrate the players who stayed behind in Florence before the Bologna match.
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