Italy defender Giorgio Scalvini ruled out of Euro 2024 with ACL injury

BERGAMO, ITALY - JUNE 02: Giorgio Scalvini of Atalanta BC walks off with an injury during the Serie A TIM match between Atalanta BC and ACF Fiorentina at Gewiss Stadium on June 02, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
By Ali Rampling
Jun 3, 2024

Italy defender Giorgio Scalvini has been ruled out of Euro 2024 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The 20-year-old was forced off after 84 minutes during Atalanta’s final Serie A game of the season against Fiorentina on Sunday.

Atalanta confirmed in a statement to Italian news outlet Gazzetta that Scalvini had suffered an ACL rupture to his left knee and would undergo further tests to establish the next steps in his rehabilitation. The club later posted on X:”We’re all with you, Giorgio Scalvini.”

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Scalvini is the second Italy centre-back to be ruled out of the tournament in the space of four days after Francesco Acerbi withdrew from the squad on Friday with a groin injury. Juventus defender Federico Gatti was called up in Acerbi’s place.

Midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, on loan at Aston Villa from Galatasaray, and Tottenham full-back Destiny Udogie had already been ruled out of the tournament through injury ahead of the squad announcement.

Scalvini was named in Luciano Spalletti’s preliminary 30-man squad for the Euros in May. He made 44 appearances in all competitions this season and was introduced as a half time substitute as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, ending Xabi Alonso’s side’s 51-game unbeaten run.

He also featured four times in Euro 2024 qualification as Italy finished runners up to England in Group C.

Italy will prepare for the European Championship with two friendlies, facing Turkey on June 4 before taking on Bosnia five days later. Four players will need to be omitted for the tournament, with squads capped at 26 players.

The defending European champions start their Euro 2024 campaign against Albania on June 15, before playing Spain five days later and concluding their group stage campaign against Croatia on June 24.

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(Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

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Ali Rampling

Ali Rampling is a News Editor at The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, she worked as the Women's Football Editor at 90min. Ali attended Loughborough University, and originates from Ipswich. Follow Ali on Twitter @AliRampling