Andrea Pinamonti has suffered another setback in his disappointing season at Inter, as explained by a report in the Italian media.
Tuttosport’s print edition confirmed the striker was set to miss the opening phase of this year’s UEFA European Under-21 Championships in Hungary and Slovenia, which starts tonight.
Pinamonti was named in Paolo Nicolato’s Italy under-21 squad but he could not join the Azzurrini due to Inter’s COVID-19 outbreak.
While other senior players were given the all-clear by Milan’s local health authority to leave Inter, the 21-year-old remains ‘blocked’ at Appiano Gentile.
Even if Pinamonti had received the same treatment as Inter’s Italy first-teamers – Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni and Stefano Sensi – it would not have given him time to join Nicolato’s side.
Italy are in fact playing their opening fixture of the tournament this evening, against the Czech Republic in Slovenia.
Pinamonti would have relished the chance to show what he can do with Italy, the Turin-based paper argued, after a season in which he has hardly featured under Antonio Conte.
Conte has given the forward just seven appearances in all competitions, with a total of 59 minutes played.
The final phase of the UEFA European Under-21 Championships will take place in May and June, and Pinamonti will be able to take part in that – if Italy make it out of their group – as nations can name a second squad for that.