Football Italia·Italy·Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 11:29 AM

Newspaper names 37 Italy youngsters to bring back major tournament success

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Peter Young

EMPOLI, ITALY - MARCH 26: Jeff Ekhator of Italy U21 celebrates after scoring the team's third goal with Michael Kayode and Luca Kaleosho during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Michael Kayode impressed on his first appearance for the Italy national team earlier this week, and U21s head coach Silvio Baldini has hinted that several other youngsters could be just around the corner. So, with that in mind, La Gazzetta dello Sport has come up with a list of 43 ‘youngsters’ that Roberto Mancini could turn to in order to bring back major tournament success.

Italy U21s coach Baldini told reporters on Wednesday that “all of my players can make the step up” to the senior team.

CESENA, ITALY - OCTOBER 10: Silvio Baldini head coach of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier betweenItaly U21 v Sweden U21 and ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld on October 10, 2025 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) — CESENA – OCTOBER 10: Silvio Baldini head coach of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier betweenItaly U21 v Sweden U21 and ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld on October 10, 2025 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Baldini, who had a brief spell as interim head coach of the senior Italy side back in June, said last week that his U21 players have matured faster as a result of their being called up in place of the regular senior squad for a pair of international friendlies back in June

“This is a group that fills me with pride when we train and pride when we play. It was a great feeling in June, and as a result of it, the guys in the U21s have matured faster,” he said.

There is confidence that with Roberto Mancini back in charge of the senior Italy side, that there might be more opportunities for emerging youngsters on the international stage in the near future.

BURSA, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, looks on 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) — BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Roberto Mancini looks on 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)

And, as a result, La Gazzetta dello Sport has released their long list of Italy youngsters who Mancini could rely upon in the next European Championship and World Cup campaigns.

Gazzetta’s 37 Italy youngsters to watch

CREMONA, ITALY - OCTOBER 14: Goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani of Italy reacts during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images) — CREMONA – OCTOBER 14: Goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani reacts during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Goalkeepers: Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Giovanni Daffara (Parma), Diego Mascardi (Torino), Mattia Fortin (Palermo).

Centre-backs: Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool), Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Matteo Palma (Udinese), Pietro Comuzzo (Torino), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund).

Full/Wing-backs: Michael Kayode (Brentford), Marco Palestra (Chelsea), Emmanuele Lulli (Roma), Costantino Favasuli (Napoli), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham), Niccolo Fortini (Torino).

CREMONA, ITALY - OCTOBER 14: Marco Palestra of Italy in action during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images) — CREMONA – OCTOBER 14: Marco Palestra in action during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Midfielders: Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Niccolo Pisilli (Roma), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Giacomo Faticanti (Avellino), Mattie Liberali (Como).

Wingers/Forwards: Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Mohamed Ali Zoma (1. FC Nurnberg), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Alphadjo Cisse (Milan), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Luigi Cherubini (Benevento), Alessio Cacciamani (Torino).

FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 17: Alphadjo Cisse of Italy looks on during the International Friendly between Italy U19 and Spain U19 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 17, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) (Roma links) — FLORENCE – JANUARY 17: Alphadjo Cisse looks on during the International Friendly between Italy U19 and Spain U19 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 17, 2024 in Florence. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Centre-forwards: Pio Esposito (Inter), Antonio Raimondo (Frosinone), Francesco Camarda (Milan), Jeff Ekhator (Juventus).

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