Italy coach reveals he has been monitoring Fiorentina, Burnley teenagers of Nigerian descent
Published: January 02, 2024Italy's national team coach Luciano Spalletti has confirmed that he has been keeping tabs on eight players including two teenagers of Nigerian descent with a view to a possible call-up to gli Azzurri ahead of this year's European Championship.
Fiorentina fullback Michael Kayode and Burnley dazzler Luca Koleosho are in the plans of Spalletti ahead of Euro 2024.
Kayode and Koleosho were members of the Italy squad that won the 2023 European U19 Championship with the former netted the winning goal in the showpiece versus Portugal.
The duo have been promoted to Italy's U21 national team and have both debuted for the squad coached by Carmine Nunziata.
Koleosho was born in Connecticut, United States to a Nigerian father and Italian-Canadian mother which makes him eligible to play international football for USA, Nigeria, Italy and Canada.
Former Juventus youth teamer Kayode was born in Borgomanero and is eligible for the Super Eagles through his father.
Speaking about the young players being monitored for the senior national team, Spalletti told Repubblica: "Players like Kayode, Ranieri, Koleosho and Casadei have emerged. We've been monitoring them for a while.
"Bove is now a certainty and I've liked Lucca's behaviour lately. Then Prati and Calafiori who is a certainty on the left and centre, and is ready for the national team."
Should Kayode, Koleosho and Tottenham Hotspur left-back Destiny Udogie make an appearance for Italy at the 2024 European Championship, they would no longer be eligible to represent the Super Eagles.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit: figc.it
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- Potential Zirkzee replacement: Bologna linked with move for 2023 Super Eagles invitee
- U17 AFCON qualifier Nigeria 1 Niger 0: Rapha Adams header secures three points for Golden Eaglets
- Isaac Success: 2013 U17 AFCON top scorer suffers injury in Italy ahead of Finidi's squad announcement
- After the return to action of Onuachu and Osayi-Samuel, Finidi has another fitness boost pre-Bafana Bafana
- Bayo Fapetu: Derby County in contract talks with midfielder who was on the books of Arsenal for ten years
- Photo: Eberechi Eze takes son of ex-Super Eagles star Victor Moses under his wing at Crystal Palace
- Osimhen's replacement: Napoli contact Man Utd over signing one-cap England international
- Official: Millwall release three Nigerian players ahead of next season
- Rangers boss provides fitness update on Super Eagles CB ahead of Scottish FA Cup final v Celtic
- Ex-Celtic midfielder tears into Dessers after close-range miss in Rangers' six-goal thriller v Hearts
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football