BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy celebrates his team’s first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifier KO Play-off match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Ruzzani/Getty Images)
Silvio Baldini, interim head coach of the Italian national team, has explained why he has called up Gianluigi Donnarumma and Francesco Pio Esposito to the youth national team for June’s international friendlies, hinting that both players could be included in the 2028 Olympic squad if they qualify.
Baldini was temporarily appointed as Italy’s national team coach following Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation following the team’s defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final at the end of March.
He was tasked with leading the Italian national team into pointless friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece in early June, and decided to name a squad made up almost entirely of young players he knew from his usual role with the Under-21s.
Of the 24 players selected by Baldini, only Donnarumma, Marco Palestra, Niccolò Pisilli and Esposito have previously won caps for the Italian national team.
What Baldini said about Donnarumma, Esposito and possible Olympic involvement with Italy
Donnarumma was widely reported to have “made himself available” for June’s friendlies despite the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup in March. Esposito’s inclusion was a bit of a surprise, as he is now firmly considered as a senior member of the squad by both Inter and Italy after his impressive breakthrough in the 2025-26 season.
Baldini spoke about the call-ups for both athletes at a press conference on Friday, hinting that both athletes could be called up for the 2028 Olympics if Italy qualifies.
“We called two senior-level players like Donnarumma and Pio Esposito into the group because we think there is a possibility to acquire these players ahead of the Olympics. They both fall under this possibility,” Baldini said on Friday (via TMW).
The next Olympics will be held in the United States in summer 2028. Three European countries will be participating in the soccer tournament, and their spots will be determined by the final standings of the 2027 European Under-21 Championship.
Since 1996, teams competing in the Olympics have been allowed to name their regular ‘U23’ squad, but they are also allowed to name three overage players, so Baldini said Donnarumma and Esposito could be included in the Olympic selection.
Baldini went on to confirm that Donnarumma was the only player in Italy’s first team who had volunteered to take part in a friendly scheduled for June.
“Donnarumma was the only one to contact me and tell me about his availability. The message is clear: Italian football wants change. I am confident that the players will do very well. I have seen that we are a cohesive group with the U21 team and there is plenty of room for improvement.”
“We will also be adding two great players, Donnarumma and Pio Esposito.”
But was Baldini “disappointed” by the fact that Donnarumma was the only Italian player to contact him?
“No, I think the wound was still too great even after Bosnia,” Baldini answered. “If they had called me, I would have limited the call to those two (Donnarumma and Esposito) because of my future career. Sometimes it’s better to wait and not participate.”
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