Roberto Mancini’s new Italy national team is gearing up for the four crucial Nations League fixtures scheduled during the first international break of the season. Among the major new names the head coach is considering for the Azzurri squad is Alphadjo Cisse, the Milan starlet who has made a strong impression at the start of the campaign. The Rossoneri attacking midfielder is part of a clear strategy aimed at bringing youth and technical freshness into the senior national team.
The agreement with the Under-21s: Mancini will not ‘raid’ Silvio Baldini’s squad
Italy’s schedule is set to be particularly demanding. They will begin on Friday, September 25, at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico against Belgium, before travelling to Bursa on Monday, September 28, to face Turkey. The final two matches will see Italy take on France in Saint-Denis on Friday, October 2, followed by another clash with Turkey at Bologna’s Dall’Ara Stadium on Monday, October 5.
As reported in today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mancini has opted for a conciliatory approach towards Silvio Baldini’s Italy Under-21 side, who will be involved in a crucial Olympic play-off against Poland. In order not to deprive the federation of such an important opportunity, the established core of the Under-21 squad will remain available to Baldini, allowing the senior national team to draw directly from the new faces who have emerged in the league.
Cisse, Liberali and overseas talents: Italy’s youth revolution
The official squad list, expected on Friday, September 18, is set to feature plenty of new faces. Alongside Milan’s Cisse, Mancini is ready to call up Mattia Liberali of Como, Nicolò Tresoldi of Bruges and Alessandro Romano of Cagliari, once the latter receives the final bureaucratic clearance from FIFA, as pointed out via PianetaMilan.it.
The coach’s scouting network also extends to Portugal. Today, the Italy staff will watch Issa Doumbia live during the Champions League match between Sporting Lisbon and Galatasaray.
There are also opportunities for several other young players who are establishing themselves in Italy and abroad, including Michael Kayode of Brentford, Antonio Vergara of Napoli, Samuel Inacio of Borussia Dortmund and Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool.
The situation surrounding Roma’s breakout midfielder Emanuele Lulli remains undecided, with Mancini reserving the right to make a last-minute assessment before deciding whether to hand him a call-up.
