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Rome: Mancini's Calf Injury Raises Concerns - Is Italy's Squad at Risk?

The condition of the Giallorossi centre-back Gianluca Mancini raises concerns as he was substituted due to a calf injury during a match against Lecce. Will he be fit for Gattuso's Italy squad facing Northern Ireland in the play-offs?

Rome: Mancini's Calf Injury Raises Concerns - Is Italy's Squad at Risk?

The condition of the Giallorossi centre-back.There is bad news for Roma, who risk losing Gianluca Mancini.The Giallorossi defender, in fact, opted to be substituted at half-time rather than continue the match at the Stadio Olimpico against Lecce, a fixture for the 30th round of the Serie A season.But let’s take a look at his condition and whether he could be at risk for Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy squad, which is set to face Northern Ireland in the play-offs.As we were saying, Mancini was substituted at the start of the second half of the match against Di Francesco’s Salento side, with Ghilardi coming on in his place. According to reports and the commentary from the touchline during the live broadcast of the match on DAZN, Mancini appears to have suffered a calf injury.The Giallorossi number 23 was caught on camera touching the injured area: the hope is that it is merely a muscle strain and that he stopped in time.Mancini’s fitness will clearly need to be assessed with the national team in mind, given that he has been called up by manager Gattuso for the play-offs for the 2026 World Cup (to be held in Canada, the United States and Mexico), scheduled to begin on Thursday evening (provided they beat Northern Ireland).It should be noted that Mancini had been suffering from calf problems even before the Europa League round of 16 second leg against Bologna, gritting his teeth to be fit for that crucial match.His condition will now be assessed through the usual medical tests.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

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Gianluca Mancini's Injury Scare

In the recent match between Roma and Lecce, Gianluca Mancini's substitution at half-time due to a calf injury has sparked worries among fans and the Italian national team. The defender seemed to have suffered a calf issue, which hopefully is just a muscle strain and not something more serious.

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National Team Considerations

With his inclusion in Gennaro Gattuso's Italy squad for the upcoming play-offs, Mancini's fitness becomes crucial. He had already been managing calf problems before, notably in the Europa League round of 16. Whether he will recover in time to join the national team against Northern Ireland remains uncertain.

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Medical Assessment and Future Prospects

Mancini's health status will be closely monitored as he undergoes medical examinations to determine the extent of his calf injury. The hope is that the defender can recuperate swiftly to participate in the crucial fixtures ahead. Fans and stakeholders will anxiously await updates on his condition.

Published on Mar 22, 2026