Italy coach Mancini watches Koleosho and Coppola in Paris FC vs Lyon
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - AUGUST 24: Roberto Mancini Coach of Saudi Nation team looks on during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Shabab and Al Ettifaq at Al-Shabab Club Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Roberto Mancini was in the stands at the Stade Jean-Bouin to monitor the progress of two potential Italy internationals as Paris FC hosted Lyon.
According to L’Équipe, the Italy boss travelled to the French capital specifically to watch defender Diego Coppola and forward Luca Koleosho, both of whom started for the hosts. The pair have been capped twice each at senior level for the Azzurri.
Koleosho and Coppola representing Italy in France
Paris FC now carry a distinctly Italian flavour after Coppola arrived permanently from Brighton this summer, while Koleosho completed his own switch from Burnley, having spent the second half of last season on loan at the club. Ciro Immobile was also on the books up until his retirement in the summer.
Koleosho, born in Norwalk, Connecticut, to a Nigerian father and an Italian-Canadian mother, is eligible for the United States, Canada and Nigeria but has committed to Italy, whom he first represented at senior level in June.
Mancini, back in charge after replacing Gennaro Gattuso, is under pressure to rebuild a squad that has missed three consecutive World Cups. His first game of this second spell is a Nations League tie against Belgium on 25 September.
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