Nicolo Fagioli has been included in Italy's provisional squad for Euro 2024 despite having only just returned from a seven-month ban for betting violations.
Fagioli was suspended in October and also had to undergo treatment for a gambling addiction. The Juventus midfielder made his return as a substitute on Monday in a 3-3 draw against Bologna.
Fagioli played in six of Juventus' eight Serie A matches before the ban and is considered one of Italy's top young midfielders. He also made one appearance for Italy, in November 2022 as a late substitute in a win over Albania.
However, there was no space for Fagioli's Juventus teammate Manuel Locatelli, one of Italy’s Euro 2020 champions.
Riccardo Calafiori has been summoned by Italy for the first time after Bologna's impressive season. The defender helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League for the first time in its history.
Torino defender Raoul Bellanova and Hellas Verona midfielder Michael Folorunsho have also been included after being called up for the first time for the friendlies in March.
Italy forward Gianluca Scamacca — fresh from Atalanta's stunning Europa League triumph — has been recalled after his impressive return to form since he was dropped for those friendly matches.
However, Ciro Immobile was left out. The 34-year-old had been Italy's go-to man at center forward for years but has never performed as well with the national team as he has at Lazio.
North London duo Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham and Arsenal’s Jorginho are the only Premier League representatives in a squad almost entirely made up of Serie A players.
Four players will need to be cut from the squad by June 6. Italy begin the defence of their title against Albania in Dortmund on June and also face Spain and Croatia in Group B.
Italy Euro 2024 squad:
GK: Donnarumma, Meret, Provedel, Vicario
DEF: Acerbi, Bastoni, Bellanova, Buongiorno, Calafiori, Cambiaso, Darmian, Di Lorenzo, Dimarco, Mancini, Scalvini
MID: Barella, Cristante, Fagioli, Folorunsho, Frattesi, Jorginho, Pellegrini, Ricci
FWD: Chiesa, El Shaarawy, Orsolini, Raspadori, Retegui, Scamacca, Zaccagni
