Luciano Spalletti said Saturday that he expected Nicolo Barella to be available for Italyâs Euro 2024 opener with Albania next weekend as the midfield star recovers from a thigh injury.
Barella will have missed both of Italyâs warm-up matches with the injury, as the European champion faces Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday after Tuesdayâs goalless draw with Turkey.
Italyâs football federation said on Saturday that Barella should be back training with the Azzurri squad âin the coming daysâ after tests revealed he was recovering well.
âWeâve been optimistic pretty much since the get-go because the situation has always been under control,â Spalletti told reporters.
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âHe wonât be available for the game in Empoli, but weâre confident, that he will be for Albania.â
Spalletti then told Sky Sport that âthere shouldnât be any doubt for his availability against Albaniaâ.
Barella, one of the few Euro 2020 winners to make Spallettiâs squad, is a key player for Italy and one of the stars of Serie A champion Inter Milan.
The 27-year-old was a near ever-present in Interâs charge to its 20th Italian league title, which it won with five matches to spare.
He has scored nine times in 53 appearances for his country.
Spalletti also told reporters that Nicolo Fagioli, a surprise selection for the Azzurri, will start in midfield alongside Arsenalâs Jorginho.
Fagioli replaced Jorginho in the Turkey stalemate to make just his third appearance for club or country since October after missing most of the season with a gambling ban.
Gianluca Scamacca will start up front after joining the training camp late due to Atalantaâs delayed finish to the Serie A season.
In-form Scamacca, who was key to Atalanta making history by winning the Europa League, played in his clubâs postponed match against Fiorentina last weekend.
Italy takes on Albania on June 15 in Group B, where it has also been drawn with Spain and Croatia.
Source Agencies
