How could Italy line up without players from Super League clubs?

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 17 May 2021 15:47 BST
• 6 min read

The newly announced European Super League, at the moment, features teams from England, Spain, and Italy.

In the proposed 20-team competition, 15 of them would be permanent members while the other five spots each season would be given via qualification methods.

Twelve of these teams have already been announced; Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter and Milan.

One of the consequences of the announcement has seen UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin declare that any player who is employed by one of the Super League clubs will be banned from representing their country at the World Cup or European Championships.

READ MORE: How could England line up without players from Super League clubs?

If this does happen, several nations will see their squads decimated moving forward, with Spain being one of them.

So, how could Roberto Mancini adapt his squad without superstars from the likes of Juventus, Inter, and AC Milan?

Italy players who could miss out

Italy will undoubtedly be weaker between the sticks as Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma would be unable to feature for his country. Now, he may actually leave Milan this summer due to his contract expiring, but unless he goes to an elite club outwith the Super League like Paris Saint-Germain, his destination will be the Super League.

The Azzurri’s defence for the last decade has seen stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci partner each other in the centre of the backline, so new blood would have to be brought in there.

Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni and Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli would also be ineligibel.

Luckily Italy will still have Marco Verratti, but they stand to lose Jorgino and Nicolo Barella.

In the forward spots, Federico Chiesa would be a big miss.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan)

Defenders: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessio Romagnoli, Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Jorginho (Chelsea), Nicolo Barella (Inter), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Sandro Tonali (Milan)

Forwards: Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa

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Italy players who would benefit

Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret would likely become Italy’s new number one.

Even without Chiellini and Bonucci there would still be some experience in the backline with 33-year-old Francesco Acerbi in place to partner young Roma star Gianluca Mancini.

In Jorginho’s absence that will allow Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manuel Locattelli to shine.

Apart from Chiesa in the forward areas, there won’t be too many changes to the preferred starting XI.

In the absence of Chiesa, that will present an opportunity for Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi to play more.

The right-back spots should remain consistent, with Alessandro Florenzi and Leonardo Spinazzola retaining their usual spots.

Leading striker Ciro Immobile, thankfully for the Italians, will still be eligible.