Official: Rugani replaces injured Gabbia for Italy World Cup qualifiers | OneFootball

Injured Milan defender Matteo Gabbia has pulled out of the Italy squad and has been replaced by Daniele Rugani.

The Italy national team confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that Milan defender Gabbia had left the training camp at Coverciano, being replaced by Daniele Rugani.

Official: Gabbia pulls out of Italy squad

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Matteo Gabbia of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 24, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Gabbia sustained a calf injury during a training session on Tuesday and was unable to continue preparations for World Cup qualifying matches against Norway and Moldova in June.

The Azzurri will make their debut on June 6 in Oslo before hosting Moldova at the Mapei Stadium three days later, on June 9.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has been forced to make several changes to the original squad named last week.

Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri replaced Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli. Francesco Acerbi refused to play for the Azzurri, as he didn’t feel part of Spalletti’s project. Meanwhile, Manuel Locatelli sustained an ankle injury during a training session earlier this week.

Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori wasn’t even called up due to a bruised knee.

Rugani’s stats this season

TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 16: Daniele Rugani of Juventus in action during the Serie A TIM match between Juventus and US Sassuolo – Serie A TIM at on January 16, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Juventus-owned Rugani spent the last season on loan at Ajax, scoring one goal in 26 appearances.

He had just returned to Turin to begin preparations for the Club World Cup.

His contract at the Allianz Stadium expires in June 2025.