Pablo Osvaldo... back in Cesare Prandelli’s Azzurri selection.

Roma rebel Pablo Osvaldo has been recalled to the Italy squad for this week’s friendly meeting with Argentina in the capital.

The Italo-Argentinian striker was omitted from Cesare Prandelli’s Confederations Cup squad for indiscipline after embarking on a public spat with former Roma coach Aurelio Andreazzoli after May’s Coppa Italia final defeat to Lazio.

Reports in the Italian media yesterday said Bundesliga club Wolfsburg are prepared to pay €20 million for Osvaldo who is on the transfer list after a series of problems with management, club chiefs and the fans.

So far he has been linked with Southampton, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, Valencia and Napoli among others, but turned down all offers.

According to Sky Sport, Wolfsburg are ready to table a lucrative offer to sign Osvaldo. They are proposing, among others, a contract worth €2.8 million per season.

Osvaldo, 27, is included in the Italy squad alongside Under-21 stars Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Insigne for a specially organised international at the Stadio Olimpico, before which the Azzurri will be granted a private audience with Pope Francis.

Milan striker Mario Balotelli returns to the fold after flying home early from the Confederations Cup with a leg injury. The Azzurri would finish third in Brazil after beating Uruguay in a play-off.

Roma midfielder Alessandro Florenzi, 22, has the chance to add to his two caps while there are call-ups for defenders Lorenzo De Silvestri of Sampdoria, Andrea Ranocchia of Inter and Luca Antonelli of Genoa.

The squad will gather in Rome tomorrow before meeting the Pope in the Vatican ahead of an evening game on August 14 at Roma and Lazio’s home ground.

Italy squad

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris St Germain).

Defenders: Antonelli (Genoa), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), De Silvestri (Sampdoria), Maggio (Napoli), Ranocchia (Inter).

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), Cerci (Torino), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Sunderland), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Paris St Germain).

Strikers: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Genoa), Insigne (Napoli), Osvaldo (Roma).