3 young players expected to make Mancini’s first Italy squad

3 young players expected to make Mancini’s first Italy squad The first squad of Roberto Mancini’s second era as coach of the Azzurri is upon us, and while the names are not set in stone, it is confirmed that he will look to build a young core early on to build a team for the long term. To that end, Mancini has already ensured players from different backgrounds eligible for the national team are scooped up early and made an integral part of the new project. Some young prospects that have started the season in promising fashion are already set to be brought in right away. Here, we look at three such players. Alessandro Romano Born to Swiss-Italian parents in Winterthur, Romano has represented Switzerland throughout his youth career but has made the switch to Italy for his senior international career. The 20-year-old, a graduate of Roma’s academy, in on loan at Cagliari for the season and has already become a mainstay in their midfield, having made six appearances and scored one goal. With the Sardi  having started the season in sensational fashion, he’d be hard to ignore. Alphadjo Cissè The 19-year-old Treviso-born Italy youth international has already impressed Milan boss Ruben Amorim and has featured in every game thus far, having scored twice in four outings as a wide No. 10 in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1. The Portuguese coach believes Cissè is ready for the Italy call-up — high praise, given his track record with youngsters. Already part of the national setup, it’s a matter of time before Cissè earns his first senior cap. Issa Doumbia The Treviglio-born midfielder moved to Sporting in the summer from Venezia and has already become a mainstay in the Portuguese heavyweights’ midfield, having made seven appearances, including one in the Champions League. Mancini has been monitoring the 22-year-old closely and recently flew out to Lisbon to watch him play in person. A senior cap for the Italy U21 international is very much on the cards. Anshuman Joshi | GIFN