Mancini Shocks with Teen Call-ups in Italy Squad for France Clash
Roberto Mancini named his Italy squad for upcoming matches against France and Belgium, featuring shock first-time call-ups for several teenagers including 17-year-old Riccardo Cassano.
Roberto Mancini continues his overhaul of the Italian national team, springing several surprises in his latest squad selection for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against France and Belgium.
The roster features first-time senior call-ups for 20-year-old AC Milan prospect Alfajeme Cisse, 19-year-old Como midfielder Mattia Liberali, and 18-year-old Parma forward Simone Lontani. However, the most striking inclusion is 17-year-old Como midfielder Riccardo Cassano, born in 2007, who has yet to make his official senior club debut.
Despite their prestigious inclusion in the senior setup, both Cassano and Lontani are expected to transition during preparations to the under-18 and under-19 squads respectively, meaning their participation in the matchday lineups remains uncertain.
Additional youth selections include 18-year-old defender Honest Ahanor. The squad continues to rely on established core leaders such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Sandro Tonali, and Nicolo Barella.
Meanwhile, Nicolo Zaniolo and Marco Palestra have earned recalls to the national team after missing the previous international window.
