The first season of the Italian national team is under way, with Italy set to play two friendlies against the Netherlands, and one against Argentina.
It is a tough time to be a member of a squad like this, as the likes of Andrea Dossena, Antonio Candreva and Leonardo Bonucci are all expected to be on the books.
That leaves a number of other potential candidates for the starting spot, and as it turns out, the man in question is no longer on the bookies’ radar.
Andrea Dotti is not going to be in the Italian squad.
The former Napoli, Fiorentina, Inter and Roma midfielder has been offered a one-year contract by his current club, Inter Milan.
The Nerazzurri have agreed to terms with the 34-year-old, who is reportedly keen on staying in Serie A. The move would give Dotti a new contract for the duration of the 2015/16 season, meaning he will remain with the club until 2021.
Dotti’s contract runs until 2019, but it is understood he has no immediate intention of extending it.
With a transfer embargo on the start of next season, the only thing preventing the move happening is a lack of interest from the Italian club.
Dovizzio’s departure would open up the door for the likes, like Alessandro Del Piero, to take over as the new number ten.
Del Piera was a regular in Dotti of late, and the club are also interested in signing Andrea Pirlo.
The Italian giants are currently without a number ten in their squad, as Marco Reus and Marcelo Gayo both missed out on the World Cup due to injury.
However, the squad will still feature the likes Ofir, Nemanja Matic, Mika Vainio, Domenico Berardi and Paulo Dybala.
The team have also signed a number one target in Francesco Totti, with the 25-year old set to be reunited with his former club, Sampdoria.
Andrea is a talented player who could do well at Inter Milan, and could make the switch to the Nerazzuri very easy.
Dossa is one of the best centre-halves in the game, and is one half of the pair who will form a partnership in midfield with the likes de Bruyne and Mertens.
He is not a natural number ten, and will need to prove his worth at Inter as well.