HONEST AHANOR has left the Italy squad and will link up with his country’s Under-21s.

The teenage defender, who has agreed to join Chelsea from Atalanta next summer, was initially named in Roberto Mancini‘s 34-man squad.

With only 23 players able to named in a matchday squad, however, Ahanor has dropped down to the Under-21s in search of game time.

The centre-back earned his first two senior caps for the Azzurri back in June.

He was an unused substitute in Italy‘s 2-0 defeat to Belgium last week, before failing to make the bench in the 4-1 triumph over Turkey.

Ahanor, 18, has now dropped out of the squad entirely for tonight’s clash with France at the Stade de France.

Instead, he could feature for Italy’s Under-21s against Poland on Monday night.

The match is an Under-21s Euros qualifier – with the Azzurri trailing their opponents by three points going into the contest.

Chelsea confirmed on deadline day that they’d sealed a £40million deal to bring Ahanor in next summer.

He subsequently moved to Crystal Palace, technically on loan from Atalanta, rather than Chelsea.

Premier League rules dictate that its clubs may only loan each other one player per season.

With Axel Disasi having already gone to Selhurst Park on loan from Stamford Bridge, Ahanor would not have been able to follow suit, had his Chelsea switch already gone through.

Ahanor made his Premier League debut in Palace’s 3-2 defeat to Ipswich last month.

He has also played in European and League Cup games for the Eagles.