Romagnoli Ready For A National Team Comeback?

Gennaro Gattuso is using preseason to tour Serie A clubs as he prepares for his debut as Italy’s head coach, and last week his roadshow stopped at Lazio’s training base in Formello. The visit wasn’t just a courtesy call. It was a hands-on step to build direct communication with clubs before the competitive schedule begins.

At Formello, Gattuso was welcomed by Maurizio Sarri, sporting director Angelo Fabiani, and club manager Alberto Bianchi. He arrived with key members of the Nazionale staff, including Gigi Buffon, Luigi Riccio, and Leonardo Bonucci. The agenda was simple and important: exchange ideas with Lazio’s staff, observe players up close, and strengthen the connection between club and national team.

For Gattuso, this Formello's visit also brought a touch of nostalgia. Among the familiar faces was Alessio Romagnoli, who formed a central-defense partnership with Bonucci during the 2017–18 season at AC Milan. Today, Bonucci is part of Gattuso’s staff, Romagnoli is the leader of Lazio’s back line, and the trio’s shared past adds extra meaning to this reunion.

Romagnoli has been out of the Azzurri picture for some time, but Gattuso’s respect for his former players hasn’t faded. The visit gives Italy’s staff a chance to evaluate Romagnoli’s fitness and form directly. With World Cup qualifiers ahead and a need for experienced, reliable options, that look could turn into a fresh opportunity for Lazio’s No. 13.

Gattuso was appointed after Luciano Spalletti’s dismissal, which followed uneven early results in qualifying, a 3–0 defeat to Norway and a 2–0 win over Moldova. The new coach debuts on the Italy bench against Estonia on September 5, then Israel three days later. With such a short runway, Gattuso is prioritizing clear communication, tactical understanding, and a practical, in-person approach, hence the tour of Serie A training grounds, with more stops planned.

For Lazio, the takeaway is positive on several fronts. The club’s working lines with Coverciano are open and active, Sarri’s methods are visible to the national setup, and individual players, starting with Romagnoli, are squarely on Italy’s radar. In a preseason focused on fine-tuning, Formello’s doors were open to the Azzurri, and that openness might yet turn into a new international chapter for a cornerstone of the Biancoceleste defense.