Locatelli headlines list of 22 players for Italy youth camp

Posted November 17, 2016 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Italian soccer team coach Giampiero Ventura gives direction to the players during a training session in Milan, Italy, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 ahead of a friendly soccer match between Italy and Germany scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/ Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

ROME (AP) - Teenage AC Milan midfielder Manuel Locatelli is among 22 young players who Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura has called up for a three-day training camp next week.

Locatelli burst onto the scene this season with goals against Sassuolo and Juventus, converting the first two on-target Serie A shots of his career.

Milan forward Gianluca Lapadula, who recently scored his first Serie A goal, was also called up.

Seven players were included from Atalanta, which is fifth in Serie A, including Roberto Gagliardini who, like Lapadula, was recently summoned by Italy for the first time.

The list announced on Thursday includes three Serie B players: Benevento goalkeeper Alessio Cragno and winger Amato Ciciretti, plus Cesena winger Luca Garritano.

Players on clubs taking part in the Champions League and Europa League next week (Juventus, Napoli, Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Roma and Sassuolo) were left out. Although Napoli made an exception for defender Lorenzo Tonelli.

Two more training sessions of a similar nature are scheduled for February and May.

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Italy:

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Benevento), Marco Sportiello (Atalanta).

Defenders: Antonio Barreca (Torino), Federico Barba (Empoli), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Andrea Conti (Atalanta), Federico Dimarco (Empoli), Armando Izzo (Genoa), Lorenzo Tonelli (Napoli), Francesco Zampano (Pescara).

Midfielders: Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Roberto Gagliardini (Atalanta), Alberto Grassi (Atalanta), Manuel Locatelli (Milan).

Attacking wingers: Amato Ciciretti (Benevento), Marco D'Alessandro (Atalanta), Luca Garritano (Cesena), Vittorio Parigini (Chievo Verona).

Forwards: Gianluca Caprari (Pescara), Roberto Inglese (Chievo Verona), Gianluca Lapadula (Milan), Andrea Petagna (Atalanta).

Italy coach Giampiero Ventura stands at the pitch prior an international friendly soccer match between Italy and Germany, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Italian soccer team coach Giampiero Ventura looks at a training session in Milan, Italy, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 ahead of the friendly soccer match between Italy and Germany scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/ Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

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