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Riccardo Cassano, a 2009-born midfielder from Como who has yet to make his senior club debut in Serie A, has been called up by Roberto Mancini to the Italy national squad for upcoming Nations League matches against France and Belgium in November 2026.
Roberto Mancini included Riccardo Cassano in the Italy squad for the upcoming matches, as reported by goal.com. The squad gathers at Coverciano to prepare for the San Siro fixture against France on November 12 and the trip to Brussels to face Belgium on November 15.
European Scouts Track Como Youth Product
- Transfer Valuation Spike: European scouts have already tracked the Como youth product, and inclusion in the senior Italy setup accelerates his market visibility ahead of any professional league minutes.
The Rise of a Precocious Playmaker
Born in 2009, Cassano operates primarily as a central midfielder or playmaker, praised for exceptional vision and ball control. He developed through the youth ranks of the Como club and currently plays for the Under-20 team without having made his Serie A debut under Cesc Fàbregas, according to sportal.eu. His reputation extends beyond domestic borders, having earned recognition from The Guardian among the top 60 global talents born in his birth year.
Mancini plans to evaluate the teenager directly in a high-intensity training environment at Coverciano. Following the initial training block, he is scheduled to join Italy’s Under-18 squad for the World Cup in Qatar beginning November 19, mirroring the developmental path of Parma’s Simone Lontani who transitions directly to Under-19 European Championship qualifiers.
Squad Overhaul and New Faces in Coverciano
| Player | Club | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Riccardo Cassano | Como | Midfield (First-time call-up) |
| Mattia Liberali | Como | Forward (First-time call-up) |
| Simone Lontani | Parma | Midfield (First-time call-up) |
| Alphadjo Cissé | AC Milan | Forward (First-time call-up) |
Cassano is joined by fellow Como newcomer Mattia Liberali among the fresh faces in Mancini’s 31-man roster. The squad also integrates Milan’s Alphadjo Cissé alongside returning names such as Nicolò Zaniolo and Marco Palestra.
Whether Cassano logs competitive minutes against elite European opposition before departing for the youth World Cup remains the central question for the upcoming international window.
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