Aston Villa star has received an expected national team call-up following the injury of Italian top left back.
Aston Villa star appears to have ladyluck on his side recently. Two of his rivals and teammates, in the club and national team, have suffered serious injury, which forced them on the sideline for a while and withdraw from the national team camp for the current international break. Such led to the emergence of Matteo Ruggeri to be in the frame of the first team.
According to the report in Sportwitness, Aston Villa new signing is now making his way back to Gli Azzuri.
“The defender has been called to Italy’s senior squad for the current international break.”
Matteo Ruggeri was initially not the main target in Aston Villa transfer business last summer. He only emerged as Unai Emery’s side’ secondary choice after their top target, AC Milan’s Pervis Estupinan could not make a move due to the stalled negotiation. Rossoneri’s new boss, Ruben Armorim vetoed the progress as he would like to utilize him in the team.
Villa then turned to Ruggeri who just joined Atletico Madrid in summer 2025. The former Atalanta man did not instantly get his chance. He was recruited mainly to provide competition for the inconsistent Ian Maatsen.
Unfortunately, Maatsen himself took a knock in the clash against Nottingham Forest. The Dutchman’s injury has been assessed and he could be benched till November. With the lack of name in the left back position, Ruggeri’s chance to play regularly eventually is on the table.
The 24-year old left back has featured in the last two Villa games, against Coventry City in Carabao Cup and versus Spurs in the Premier League. Both ended in a victory for the Lions. He had a fine form too.
In the last outing, for example, he made 68 touches, one shot, one key pass, and won aerial duel once. He also made five interceptions, eight clearances, two crosses, five long balls with two of them accurate, and 35 passes.
Ruggeri was initially left out of the squad as he is just settling in with the Lions. However, Federico Dimarco’s knee injury pushed the Inter Milan man to withdraw from the squad and Roberto Mancini opts to include Ruggeri to replace him.
This would be a chance for him to finally make his international debut. He has been called up before in 2025 for UEFA Nations League A quarterfinals. It was a two-legged match against Germany under Lucioano Spalletti. Unfortunately, Ruggeri was only an unused substitute in both games.
The former Atletico Madrid man would have to fight for the place with Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori as the expected starter. It remains to be seen if Mancini would field both Calafiori and Ruggeri in turn or rotate them as Italy have four fixtures ahead in this international break.
Gli Azzurri faces off Turkiye and France on the road on September 28 and October 2 respectively. They also welcome Belgium and Turkiye on September 5 and October 5.
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