Italy could lose Caprile to Albania after Cagliari goalkeeper gains citizenship
BERGAMO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 12: Elia Caprile of Cagliari Calcio looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on September 12, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile has been granted Albanian citizenship, opening the door to a possible international switch away from Italy.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the 25-year-old now holds dual citizenship. Albanian President Bajram Begaj signed the decree on 19 October, and it has since been published in the country’s official gazette.
Caprile was born in Verona to Italian parents and has no Albanian heritage. He was granted citizenship through his marriage to Emily Toshkollari, whose family is Albanian.
He has represented Italy at Under-18 and Under-21 level and was called up to the senior squad by Gennaro Gattuso in November 2025. He has never won a senior cap, however, so he is not yet tied to Italy.
Can Caprile play for Albania?
Holding a passport doesn’t automatically make Caprile eligible. FIFA requires a player taking up a new nationality to prove a genuine link to the country, through birth, parents or grandparents, or long-term residence. Marriage alone does not meet those criteria.
Reports in Italy say the Albanian federation is already exploring the possibility of calling him up, but FIFA would need to approve any switch, and it has blocked similar cases in the past.
If he were cleared, there would be an unusual twist. Albania’s current No 1, Alen Sherri, is Caprile’s backup at Cagliari.
Albania are coached by Rolando Maran, who knows Serie A well from his spells at Chievo, Cagliari and Genoa.
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