The head coach of the Italian national volleyball team, Ferdinando De Giorgi, announced the expanded list of 37 players who will prepare for "Azzurri" participation in the Volleyball Nations League 2026. This happened during the official press conference for the season presentation.
The final list of 30 players who will be registered for the tournament will be published on May 20.
Alessandro Michieletto was also included in the expanded squad, even though De Giorgi initially announced that he would start the season without him due to his back problems. This suggests that the setter's condition is improving and he may be gradually included in the preparation.

Setters

• Simone Giannelli - Perugia

• Riccardo Sbertoli - Trentino

• Paolo Porro - Piacenza

• Mattia Boninfante (teammate of Aleksandar Nikolov in Lube)

• Alessandro Fanizza - Cisterna

• Bryan Argilagos - Perugia (19 years old)

Liberos

• Fabio Balaso - Lube

• Domenico Pace - Piacenza

• Gabriele Laurenzano - Trentino

• Matteo Staforini - Verona

• Damiano Catania - Milano

• Luca Loreti - Piacenza

Opposite hitters

• Yuri Romanò - Fakel Yamal (Russia)

• Kamil Rychlicki - ZAKSA (Poland)

• Alessandro Bovolenta - Piacenza

• Tommaso Guzzo - Cisterna

• Diego Frascio - (19 years old - teammate of Jasmin Velichkov at Monza)

Outside Hitters

• Alessandro Michieletto - Trentino

• Luca Porro - Modena

• Mattia Bottolo - (teammate of Aleksandar Nikolov at Lube)

• Francesco Sani - Verona

• Daniele Lavia - Trentino

• Mattia Orioli - Padua

• Tommaso Rinaldi - Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers (Japan)

• Giulio Magalini - Grottazzolina

• Davide Gardini - Padua

• Tommaso Ichino - Milano

Middle Blockers

• Roberto Russo - Perugia

• Giovanni Gargiulo - (teammate of Aleksandar Nikolov at Lube)

• Giovanni Sanguinetti - Modena

• Pardo Mati - Modena (19 years old)

• Francesco Comparon - Piacenza

• Gianluca Galassi - Piacenza

• Lorenzo Cortesia - Verona

• Leandro Mosca - (teammate of Zhasmin Velichkov in Monza)

• Andrea Truocchio - Padua

• Marco Pellacani - Grottazzolina
  
  

  

De Giorgi relies on squad depth, combining key figures and young players across all lines. The most serious competition is expected among the outside hitters, where Italy has depth and various options in attack and reception.