Mancini keeps focus on young players for Italy training camp
ROME (AP) — Three players born in 2001 and a handful yet to appear in Serie A have been called up for a training camp with Italy's national team.
At just 17, Inter Milan striker Eddie Salcedo was the youngest player included by coach Roberto Mancini on Friday.
Two 18-year-olds were also selected: Roma midfielder Alessio Riccardi and Juventus defender Paolo Gozzi.
Italy's second training camp of the year will be held on Monday and Tuesday in Florence. Mancini is using the sessions to observe young talent as part of a rejuvenation process following Italy's failure to qualify for last year's World Cup. None of the regular starters were called up.
Italy won its opening two European Championship qualifiers over Finland and Liechtenstein last month and next faces Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina in June.
Italy will host the opening match of Euro 2020 at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
Under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio will also take part in the training camp, as Italy is also focused on the under-21 Euros it is hosting in June.