Milan striker Mario Balotelli has been included in Italy’s squad to face Argentina on Wednesday, despite fears over a calf injury.
The 22-year-old had been an injury doubt for the clash with the South Americans after being forced off during his side’s 2-0 International Champions Cup clash with LA Galaxy earlier in the week.
However, tests have since revealed that the problem is not as serious as first feared, meaning Balotelli has now been given the all clear to take his place in Cesare Prandelli’s 27-man squad.
He joins fellow forward Pablo Osvaldo in the party after the Roma man was left out of the FIFA Confederations Cup back in June following a public outburst at former coach Aurelio Andreazzoli.
Osvaldo is one of seven players absent from that tournament who have been called up, including Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti and Roma s Alessandro Florenzi.
Sampdoria s Lorenzo De Silvestri has also won a recall for the first time since 2010, while fellow defenders Andrea Ranocchia of Inter and Genoa s Luca Antonelli are also included.
Italy squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St. Germain)
Defenders: Luca Antonelli (Genoa), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Lorenzo De Silvestri (Sampdoria), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter);
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Andrea Pirlo ( Juventus), Marco Verratti (Paris St. Germain);
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Genoa), Pablo Osvaldo (Roma), Lorezno Insigne (Napoli)
