Lazio attacker Daniel Maldini is reportedly a strong candidate for an Italy national team call-up ahead of the World Cup play-offs, following Gianluca Scamacca’s injury. However, it remains uncertain if a direct replacement will be named for the upcoming crucial fixtures.
National team coach Gennaro Gattuso recently announced his squad for the decisive steps towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
However, immediate adjustments were necessary as Atalanta confirmed that Scamacca suffered a muscular issue in training, specifically an adductor lesion in his right leg, sidelining him for several weeks and ruling him out of contention.
Adding to the uncertainty, Inter Milan stated that Alessandro Bastoni would miss their upcoming match against Fiorentina this weekend. He will require further assessment by the national team’s medical staff to determine his availability for the play-offs.
Maldini Emerges as Key Attacking Option for Italy
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Daniel Maldini is considered the frontrunner if Gattuso decides to bring in an additional player to fill Scamacca’s void.
This decision is not yet finalized, as Gattuso currently has 27 players in his squad to draw from.
While Maldini typically operates as a support striker rather than a central forward, he has been deployed in a more advanced role by Maurizio Sarri since his January move to Lazio.
The 24-year-old has registered just one goal and three assists across 19 competitive appearances this season.
