Alessandro Bastoni has withdrawn from the Italy squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League semi-final clash with Spain due to illness.
After representing Inter Milan in last Saturday's Champions League final defeat to Manchester City, Bastoni was due to link up with the rest of Roberto Mancini's 23-man squad at their Coverciano training base.
Bastoni was an integral member of the Nerazzurri first team during the 2022-23 campaign, starting 42 of his 45 appearances across all competitions, while he has also notched up 17 caps for Italy under Mancini.
However, Bastoni missed training on Wednesday morning and Italy have since confirmed that the 23-year-old has been forced to pull out of the squad having fallen ill with the flu.
🚨 𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🚨
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 14, 2023
Alessandro Buongiorno has replaced Alessandro Bastoni, who has fallen ill with flu.#SPAITA #NationsLeague #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/lfZHalCGZ0
Uncapped Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno has been called up as Bastoni's replacement and will compete with Rafael Toloi, Francesco Acerbi and captain Leonardo Bonucci for a start at centre-back.
The 24-year-old had previously been part of the Italy training camp in Sardinia last week and he will now fly with the rest of the senior squad to the Netherlands on Wednesday evening ahead of their semi-final showdown with Spain in Enschede on Thursday.
Buongiorno made 34 Serie A appearances for a Torino side who finished 10th in the top-flight table in the 2022-23 campaign, and the 6ft 4in defender also featured four times for the Turin-based outfit en route to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
Italy will be seeking revenge against Spain after losing 2-1 to La Roja at the semi-final stage of the 2020-21 Nations League before winning the third-placed playoff against Belgium.
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