Fagioli Included in Defending Champion Italy’s Provisional Euro 2024 Squad Despite Betting Scandal
Nicolò Fagioli has been named in Italy's provisional squad for the upcoming Euro 2024, marking his return after serving a seven-month ban for betting violations.
Luciano Spalletti announced a 30-man squad on Thursday as Italy prepares to defend its Euro title.
Fagioli, who plays for Juventus, was suspended in October due to betting infractions and underwent treatment for gambling addiction. Despite this setback, he made his comeback as a substitute during Juventus' recent 3-3 draw against Bologna.
Prior to his suspension, Fagioli featured in six out of eight Serie A matches for Juventus, establishing himself as one of Italy's promising young midfield talents.
Although Fagioli had one previous appearance for Italy, coming on as a substitute in a 2022 victory over Albania, his Juventus teammate Manuel Locatelli, a key member of Italy's Euro 2020-winning squad, did not make the cut for the provisional squad.
Among the new faces in the squad is Riccardo Calafiori, earning his first call-up following an impressive season with Bologna, which saw the club secure Champions League qualification for the first time in its history.
Additionally, Torino's Raoul Bellanova and Hellas Verona's Michael Folorunsho have received their maiden call-ups after catching the selectors' eyes with their performances.
Gianluca Scamacca, who recently showcased his form with Atalanta in the Europa League, has earned a recall to the squad after being omitted from recent friendlies.
However, veteran striker Ciro Immobile has been left out, with the 34-year-old's national team performances not matching his club success with Lazio over the years.
Ahead of the tournament, four players will be dropped from the squad by June 6. The Euro 2024 championship commences in Germany on June 14, with Italy beginning their title defense against Albania in Dortmund the following day. Spain and Croatia are also in Group B.
Before heading to Germany, Italy will play warm-up matches against Turkey on June 4 and Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later.
