Juventus talent Mbangula among four called up for Belgium squad against Italy | OneFootball

Belgium have been forced to call in four new players for the Nations League matches against Italy and Israel, including a first senior nod for Juventus winger Samuel Mbangula.

The showdown with the Azzurri kicks off at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Thursday at 19.45 GMT.

Coach Domenico Tedesco had named Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Malick Fofana and Joaquin Seys for these games, but they all had to withdraw due to injury.

They were replaced by Mbangula, Arthur Vermeeren, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Killian Sardella.

Mbangula flourishing at Juventus

Juventus’ Italian defender #27 Andrea Cambiaso (L) celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with Juventus’ Belgian forward #51 Samuel Mbangula during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Como at The Allianz Stadium in Turin on August 19, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)

This is the first senior call-up for Mbangula, who has been launched into the Juventus first team by coach Thiago Motta this season.

The 20-year-old left-sided winger already has six caps for Belgium at Under-21 level and can play in a variety of attacking roles.

He joined the Juventus academy in September 2020 and worked his way through the levels, making seven Serie A appearances and one in the Champions League this term.

Mbangula contributed one goal and three assists.

Belgium squad:

Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Al-Qadsiah), Maarten Vandevoort (RB Leipzig), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest)

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting), Maxim de Cuyper (Club Brugge), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Matte Smets (KRC Genk), Ameen Al-Dakhil (Stuttgart), Killian Sardella (RSC Anderlecht)

Midfielders: Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest), Arne Engels (Celtic), Romeo Lavia (Chelsea), Samuel Mbangula (Juventus), Albert Sambi Lokonga (Sevilla), Arthur Vermeeren (RB Leipzig)

Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli)