Mancini’s latest squad is Italy’s youngest ever, even without Cassano and Lontani

BURSA, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Italy pose for a team photograph before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Roberto Mancini’s latest national team squad is Italy’s youngest ever, even without 17-year-old Riccardo Cassano or 18-year-old Simone Lontani factored in. 

Last week, Mancini named a squad of 31 players for November’s Nations League fixtures against France and Belgium coming up on Thursday and Sunday evenings respectively. 

That squad included surprising call-ups for 17-year-old Cassano, who has not yet made a competitive appearance at club level, and 18-year-old Lontani. Both players will train with the senior squad for a few days before returning to the U18s and U19s where they are expected to earn game time this international break. 

Even without Cassano and Lontani factored in, the remaining players make up Italy’s youngest ever national team squad with an average age of 24 years and 171 days. 

Aside from Cassano and Lontani, Mancini’s latest Italy squad includes several more teenagers in Honest Ahanor (18), Matteo Palma (18) and Mattia Liberali (19). Alphadjo Cisse (20), Pio Esposito (21) and Marco Palestra (21) are the next youngest on the list. 

At 30 years old, Guglielmo Vicario is the oldest member of the current Italy squad. Nicolo Barella (29) is the second-most senior member of the squad, followed by Federico Gatti (28) and Federico Dimarco (28). 

Current Italy national team squad 

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus);

Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Marco Palestra (Chelsea), Matteo Palma (Udinese), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Riccardo Cassano (Como), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Simone Lontani (Parma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham);

Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Alphadjo Cisse (Milan), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Mattia Liberali (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese).