Italy called Gatti due to Bastoni disciplinary record concern

Juventus defender Federico Gatti was a surprise late call for the Italy squad in the Nations League against France and Belgium, but it is reportedly due to concerns over Alessandro Bastoni’s disciplinary record.

The Azzurri are set to complete their Nations League Group A fixtures when facing France at San Siro on Thursday, then visiting Belgium on Sunday evening.

Coach Roberto Mancini was forced to lose Roma defender Gianluca Mancini due to injury, then called in 18-year-old Udinese talent Matteo Palma.

However, late Sunday night, he also added Gatti to the list of players attending the training camp at Coverciano.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, this is because of genuine concerns that Inter defender Bastoni will not be available for the showdown with Belgium.

There are several players in the side who are one yellow card away from suspension in the Nations League, so if they are booked against France, they won’t be able to play in Brussels.

They are Bastoni, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Niccolò Fagioli, Gianluca Scamacca and Antonio Vergara.

If Bastoni were to be suspended, then the only central defenders available would be Giorgio Scalvini, Honest Ahanor, Matteo Palma, Daniele Ghilardi and Riccardo Calafiori.

Gatti was therefore drafted in to act as insurance for some more experience in defence going into the final match.

The top two teams in Group A will go through to the Nations League quarter-final, and currently France are on 10 points, Italy seven, then Belgium six.

Turkiye are already rock bottom having lost all four matches.