Italy: Serie A's new faces for the Nations League
Mancini’s second spell begins with the new faces. Just as he did during his first stint in charge, Roberto Mancini has once again sprung a few surprises with his squad selection for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. It has almost become a trademark of the current Italy coach, who has never been afraid to break the mould and put together an Azzurri side capable of capturing the imagination. That was the case before, and it looks set to be so again. Six members of his trusted 2021 group have been recalled for this new chapter – Donnarumma, Barella, Cristante, Bastoni, Raspadori and Di Lorenzo – while much of the squad will need time to gel, with a combination of completely different selections and players looking to relaunch themselves.
In that sense, the extended international break could hardly be better suited to Mancini’s needs. A 34-man squad gives him plenty of flexibility in terms of selection, while three full weeks of work will provide the starting point for wide-ranging assessments and the chance to find the right connections to build the backbone of the Italy side of the future.
The Azzurri have four matches on the schedule: an opening fixture against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico, away trips to Türkiye and France, before rounding things off at the Dall’Ara in Bologna against Türkiye once again on 5 October. Italy will be looking to preserve their place in League A, where they have remained ever since the competition was launched in 2018, while also aiming to go as far as possible. “I want to start winning straight away.” Roberto Mancini’s words in his press conference leave little room for interpretation: the objective is to rediscover a winning feeling ahead of the major target of EURO 2028. The Nations League will be a testing ground, but not merely that. There is a new group to discover and plenty of talent waiting to emerge, with the hope of beginning a new cycle capable of winning over and engaging the fans once again.
Let’s start with those based abroad. Nine members of the squad currently play outside Italy. The good news is Inácio’s decision to join the group from Borussia Dortmund, while Zoma of Nürnberg and Doumbia of Sporting CP are among the new faces who fit Mancini’s vision. It is a way of broadening the horizons without necessarily relying on the familiar surroundings of domestic football. That said, the new coach has also turned to Serie A, showing no hesitation in placing his faith in the emerging generation, a process that has indirectly resulted in a number of high-profile omissions.
Which players are the new faces from Serie A Enilive?
Massimo Pessina
The 18-year-old Bologna goalkeeper’s first Italy call-up is a genuine surprise. The Lombardy-born talent made his Serie A debut against Napoli last season, immediately showing personality and confidence between the posts. Having remained at Casteldebole under Domenico Tedesco, he has moved up the pecking order from third to second-choice goalkeeper this season and is now pushing Skorupski for the starting spot. With Palladino’s arrival on the Bologna bench, he will be looking to shake up the hierarchy. Roberto Mancini wants to take a closer look at the young goalkeeper’s qualities, giving him the opportunity to experience daily life at Coverciano alongside Donnarumma and the rest of the squad. Time is on his side, and he is a quick learner.
Daniele Ghilardi
A centre-back developed in the Fiorentina and Verona academies, Ghilardi has made huge strides during his first season at Roma under Gasperini. Competition does not faze him: on paper, he sits behind the established starters in the Giallorossi squad, but that has never stopped him. One of the Lucca-born defender’s greatest strengths is his versatility. He can operate at the heart of a three-man defence, play as a wide centre-back or slot into a back four. At 22, and after an excellent development path with the Under-21s, he looks ready to test himself at the next level. Comfortable on the ball, he has the profile of a modern defender with plenty of room to develop in the long term.
Eddy Kouadio
Born in Prato and of Ivorian heritage, the 2006-born defender is ready to make the most of his opportunity. Owned by Fiorentina, his development on loan at Monza has got off to an impressive start. Jurić has taken him under his wing, providing the ideal environment for Kouadio to learn quickly and accelerate his development. He is quick, strong in one-on-one situations and brings plenty of versatility. When required, he can also operate at right-back, making use of his outstanding acceleration. In the opening weeks of the season, he has consistently featured as the right-sided centre-back in a back three, a role that appears ideal for his continued development. His call-up is both a reward and a new starting point. Kouadio is ready to make himself available, while Mancini now has the opportunity to assess him at close quarters.
Alessandro Romano
Roberto Mancini’s efforts to convince Cagliari’s emerging talent have paid off. Born to Italian parents, the Roma academy graduate represented Switzerland throughout his youth international career and came close to receiving a senior call-up from the Swiss national team. His breakthrough during the opening part of the Serie A Enilive season helped persuade the Winterthur-born midfielder to choose Italy, with Mancini’s determined pursuit also playing an important role. Romano will represent the Azzurri, and there are already those calling for him to be given a leading role in the project. The youngster has shown both personality and substance in Pisacane’s Cagliari midfield, scoring on his Serie A debut and producing a number of standout performances. As always, and particularly at international level, balance is essential. Mancini will know how to give him the right amount of space, allowing a player with huge potential to develop in the right way.
Sebastiano Esposito
Hard work eventually pays off. He joins Pio in the Italy squad and can enjoy the feeling of having reached another major milestone. At Sassuolo, he has taken centre stage, scoring against Juventus in Serie A Enilive two matchdays ago, while Aquilani has challenged him to raise the bar and Esposito has responded. The emotion of wearing the Italy shirt for the first time provides the greatest possible motivation, while the prospect of lining up alongside his brother is the natural consequence of a journey to be enjoyed to the fullest. From a technical point of view, Seba Esposito gives Mancini an attacking option capable of fitting into a number of different systems. He can play as a second striker, a mobile centre-forward or as an inverted wide player, with his ideal position likely to depend on the opposition and the requirements of each match. He will be looking to make his mark with confidence and showcase his qualities.
Antonio Vergara
Much like Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli’s young talent brings dynamism to the Azzurri squad. In truth, Antonio Vergara had already earned an opportunity with the senior national team around the time of the 2026 World Cup play-offs, but plantar fasciitis prevented him from answering Gennaro Gattuso’s call. Several months later, a deserved call-up has arrived as a natural next step. Mancini has closely studied the Napoli attacker’s development and was quickly convinced to include him in the beginning of this new chapter. First Conte and then Allegri have guided him through his step up to Serie A Enilive, helping shape a rare talent that needs the freedom to express itself without too many restrictions. His ideal role will become clearer along the way.