Udinese manager Andrea Sottil has admitted he was left ‘surprised’ by Italy coach Roberto Mancini’s decision to ignore Tottenham loan Destiny Udogie for his latest international squad.
The Italy coach named his squad for the upcoming international break this week, with Udogie’s name nowhere to be seen.
He’s been impressing in Serie A again this season, where he is spending the campaign on loan from Tottenham.
He joined Spurs in an £18m deal from Udinese in the summer but was immediately loaned straight back to the Italian side for the year to continue his development.
That is something he is certainly doing, playing 90 minutes in all but one of Udinese’s five league games so far and bagging goals in the wins over Monza and Roma.
He is widely considered to be one of the top talents in Italy, which is why Tottenham moved quickly to secure his signature ahead of any competition this summer.
He is yet to be handed his chance for Italy’s senior side, though, with Mancini electing to go with more experienced players in the left-back position and leaving Udogie to the Under 21’s, a decision Sottil is baffled by.
“These choices surprise me,” Sky Sport Italy report him saying.
“I absolutely respect the decisions of coach Roberto Mancini, whom I respect very much, but I think Udogie is one of the best full backs in our league.
“Silvestri ditto, I think he is one of the best goalkeepers we have in Italy. The boys have accepted the decision and will work even better in view of the next call-up.”
