Two possible Italy line-ups as Gattuso holds talks with 35 players

Marseillle's Italian head coach Gennaro Gattuso looks on ahead of the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and AS Monaco at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, on January 27, 2024. (Photo by Sylvain THOMAS / AFP) (Photo by SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Gennaro Gattuso has already called 35 Italy players, and according to Gazzetta, there are two possible line-ups for the Azzurri under their new coach.

Gattuso was unveiled at a press conference on Thursday and revealed that he had already spoken to 35 players, including Federico Chiesa.

The former midfielder will make his debut as Italy’s head coach on September 5 in a home World Cup qualifying match against Estonia at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

Gattuso called 35 Italy players

Friday’s printed edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that with the 35 players already contacted by Gattuso, there are two possible formations that the ex-Napoli coach can deploy in a few months.

One is a 3-4-3 formation with Riccardo Calafiori on the bench, Matteo Politano, Moise Kean and Mattia Zaccagni up front.

The 4-2-3-1 formation features the same attacking trident, joined by Giacomo Raspadori as an attacking midfielder.

Gattuso hasn’t yet decided on which formation he will use on his debut in September and insisted that his priority will be to change the team’s mindset and restore a high sense of belonging.

Possible Italy XIs under Gattuso

3-4-3: Donnarumma; Coppola (Leoni), Buongiorno, Bastoni (Calafiori); Di Lorenzo, Barella, Tonali, Cambiaso; Politano (Orsolini), Kean, Zaccagni.

4-2-3-1: Donnarumma; Cambiaso, Buongiorno, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella, Tonali; Politano, Raspadori, Zaccagni (Chiesa); Kean (Retegui).

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