Overview
- The FIGC announced a 24-player, low-age 'perspective' squad on Monday, May 25 that includes 18-year-old Samuele Inácio and three other Bundesliga-based youngsters for friendlies on 3 June and 7 June.
- Inácio graduated rapidly at Borussia Dortmund this season, became a regular under coach Niko Kovač, scored his first professional goal against Eintracht Frankfurt, and recently extended his BVB contract.
- Also selected were Dortmund teammates Luca Reggiani and Filippo Mane plus Gladbach defender Fabio Chiarodia, giving these players their first senior-team call-ups and opening chances to earn full caps.
- Because Inácio has both Italian and Brazilian citizenship and Brazil has shown interest, an early senior appearance with Italy would strengthen Italy’s claim and likely rule him out of the U19 European Championship in Wales.
- The selection follows Italy’s failure to reach the 2026 World Cup and is part of an explicit youth rebuild that will test young talent, increase exposure for club development pipelines and affect transfer-market value for players like Inácio.