Italy’s camp has been trimmed by an untimely fitness concern before the decisive meeting with Turkey, with Moise Kean leaving the national setup to return to Como. The forward will miss a match Roberto Mancini’s side feel they must win, creating a fresh selection problem at the end of a demanding international window.
Kean returns to Como
- Kean was assessed after failing to recover sufficiently from his physical issue during the break.
- Italy confirmed that he will not be available for the following day’s encounter with Turkey.
- The striker has instead headed back to Como, where his absence is also a concern for Cesc Fabregas.
Kean has been viewed as a potentially important figure in Mancini’s renewed Italy project and had shown his value on the pitch during this international period. His withdrawal means Italy must find another route through a Turkish side Mancini expects to provide a stern test.
Changes expected against Turkey
Mancini indicated that rotation is unavoidable after a crowded schedule, with only two days separating Italy’s recent fixtures. He said several alterations were planned, while other decisions would be left until close to kick-off.
Gianluca Scamacca is among the candidates to start, potentially replacing Pio. Mancini stressed that Turkey should not be treated as a manageable obstacle, warning that the contest cannot be expected to follow a simple script.
“Turkey are a strong team and the result is not one that can be predicted,” Mancini said. “The key has been to give the group solidity and help the players regain belief in themselves. There is no danger of taking the opposition lightly.”
Barella urged to add goals
The Italy coach also addressed Nicolò Barella’s contribution in the final third. Mancini believes the midfielder still has considerable room to grow for the national team, but agreed that greater consistency in front of goal is an area for improvement.
With Kean absent and legs needing to be managed, Italy’s match against Turkey will test both the depth of Mancini’s squad and the confidence he has sought to rebuild during the window.
