19th March, 2018
Defender Giorgio Chiellini has withdrawn from Italy’s training sessions ahead of this month’s international friendlies because of a thigh strain, his club Juventus said on Monday.
The Azzurri, as the Italian national team is called, is expected to take on Argentina in Manchester on Friday and England at Wembley four days later.
Interim coach Luigi Di Biagio replaced Gian Piero Ventura in November after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
The 33-year-old Chiellini, capped 96 times by Italy, picked up the injury in Juve’s 0-0 draw at Spal on Saturday.
The Turin club said the injury would be evaluated over the next two days.
Juve’s next match is against AC Milan on March 31, followed by the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on April 3.