Official: Ranieri replaces injured Buongiorno in Italy squad

epa11984157 Alessandro Buongiorno of Italy (R) gestures during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, 2nd leg match between Germany and Italy in Dortmund, Germany, 23 March 2025. EPA-EFE/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

Napoli star Alessandro Buongiorno has withdrawn from the Italy squad for games against Norway and Moldova and has been replaced by Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri.

The Italy national team announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday morning that Fiorentina centre-back Ranieri would replace Buongiorno in the Azzurri squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

Official: Italy replace injured Buongiorno

SEVILLE, SPAIN - MAY 01: Luca Ranieri of Fiorentina scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Real Betis Balompie and ACF Fiorentina at Estadio Benito Villamarin on May 01, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) — SEVILLE, SPAIN – MAY 01: Luca Ranieri of Fiorentina scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Real Betis Balompie and ACF Fiorentina at Estadio Benito Villamarin on May 01, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Buongiorno hasn’t played a competitive match for over a month due to an adductor injury.

The Italian centre-back was unavailable for five of Napoli’s last eight Serie A matches, playing just 64 minutes against Torino on April 27 and spending the remaining two games on the bench.

NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 08: Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli during the Serie A match between Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 08, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) — NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 08: Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli during the Serie A match between Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 08, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Italy will debut in the World Cup qualifiers on June 6 away at Norway, while the second match will be played at home against Moldova on June 9.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti will hold his first press conference of the international break today, speaking at Coverciano at 14:30 local time (13:30 BST). Football Italia will be among the accredited media.