Palestra and Caprile pre-called to Gattuso's national team
Letter from the coach to the two rossoblù players ahead of the World Cup playoff match against Northern Ireland on March 26thPer restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
Palestra joins the senior national team. And Caprile could "celebrate" his second cap. While it's still unclear, coach Rino Gattuso's pre-call-ups are still a possibility. He also sent a letter to the two Rossoblu players and all the other Azzurri players—even the "potential" ones—ahead of the playoff semifinals for a spot at the World Cup in June.
The rossoblù goalkeeper and winger, among the protagonists in Serie A, are on the list, with Palestra "called" by popular demand among those sure of a shirt.
Italy will face Northern Ireland in the semi-final on March 26 at 8.45pm in Bergamo, with the possible final featuring either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Besides Palestra, on loan from Atalanta until June 30, a spot in the goalkeeping ranks— strictly behind Donnarumma —could also be found for Caprile, who has also had an excellent season. Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti , currently in Qatar, is also expected to be a guaranteed starter, a sensational return for the Pescara native. Another player who has received a pre-call-up is Federico Chiesa, the Liverpool winger, who, like Verratti, won the 2021 European Championship under coach Roberto Mancini.
For the Rossoblu full-back, Europe's top dribbler, this would be a fitting accolade for a season he played a starring role in, literally dragging Cagliari to a relatively secure position in the league table with his physicality and tactical precision. Atalanta will decide, starting June 30th, whether to keep him or secure a significant fee for him to bolster an already excellent squad.
Gattuso is reportedly planning to give Verratti, currently at Al-Duhail SC, a pure playmaker's jersey. He's someone who thinks quickly, a skill that will be useful in the one-off match that could pave the way for the World Cup after two defeats. A thousand days after his last appearance, Verratti could form a midfield with Locatelli, Tonali, and Barella, making him a significant presence. Verratti is on vacation because football is suspended in Qatar due to the Middle East conflict. Gattuso met with Tonali and Chiesa in London, while Zaniolo is not expected to be in the squad.