Four players earn first call-ups in latest Italy squad: Everything you need to know
CAERNARFON, WALES - JUNE 29: Mattia Liberali of Italy looks on during the UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2026 match between Italy and Serbia at The Oval on June 29, 2026 in Caernarfon, Wales. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
Four players earned their first senior national team call-ups when Roberto Mancini announced his squad of 31 Italy players for November’s Nations League fixtures against France and Belgium, plus another who is set to earn their first ‘proper’ taste of international action: Here is everything you need to know about the fresh faces in the latest Azzurri squad.
Italy will be in action against France in San Siro next Thursday, November 12, and away against Belgium on Sunday, November 15.
As things stand, Italy sit in second place in their Nations League group on seven points after four matches. France lead the way on 10, Belgium are in third on six and Turkiye are bottom on zero.
Ahead of the November round of fixtures, Mancini announced a squad of 31 players on Thursday evening, which included first call-ups for 17-year-old Como midfielder Riccardo Cassano, Parma 18-year-old Simone Lontani, Milan top scorer Alphadjo Cisse and recent Champions League goalscorer Mattia Liberali.
There was also a call-up for Luca Koleosho, who earned his first two caps in a pair of friendlies under interim head coach Silvio Baldini back in June, as part of a squad that was made up almost entirely of players from the U21 squad. This is his first call-up to a competitive camp.
Riccardo Cassano (17) Como
The most surprising inclusion on the list is 17-year-old Cassano, who has not yet made a competitive appearance at club level.
The talented teenager, who likes to play in front of the defence, capable of dictating and breaking up play, was only promoted to Como’s U21 squad at the beginning of the season and earned his first call-up to the U18s squad in September.
He travelled, trained and earned minutes with the senior Como side during pre-season, but is yet to appear competitively under Cesc Fabregas. His appearances this season have all come in the Primavera league or in the UEFA Youth League.
Cassano will spend the first few days of the international break with the senior Italy squad and will have an opportunity to impress in front of Mancini, but will then be released back to the Italy U18s squad, where he is more likely to earn match minutes this break.
Simone Lontani (18) Parma
Like Cassano, 18-year-old Parma forward Lontani will also spend the first few days of the international break with the senior Italy squad before returning to the Italy U19s to earn game time at the right age group.
The teenager, who came through the academies of Cesena and Milan, joined Parma over the summer and has gone on to score five goals from his first 11 senior appearances at club level, including three in 10 outings in Serie A.
Lontani’s appearances so far this season have largely come as a second striker, but he is capable of covering in a number of central positions as well as on the left wing if required.
Alphadjo Cisse (20) Milan
It was only a matter of time before Cisse was included in the Italy squad: There had been calls for him to be included back in September as well. The 20-year-old, in his first season, is currently Milan’s leading goalscorer across all competitions with seven from 12 appearances.
He brings a level of versatility to the Italy attack, capable of playing as a striker, in a supporting role behind the centre-forward or as a left winger.
Unlike Cassano or Lontani, Cisse will be targeting his first minutes for the senior Italy side during the November round of fixtures.
Mattia Liberali (19) Como
Fresh off scoring his first Champions League goal in Como’s historic 9-1 drubbing of Lens earlier this week, Liberali will have an opportunity to prove his worth with the Italy squad this month.
The 19-year-old is not quite a regular in the Como line-up just yet, but is beginning to earn opportunities off the bench under Cesc Fabregas. He current has two goals and two assists from six appearances across all competitions so far this season, three of those goal
Involvements were in the 9-1 victory over Lens on Wednesday night.
He and Cisse know each other well given that they both spent the 2025-26 season in Serie B with Catanzaro.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.