Mancini’s latest squad is Italy’s youngest ever, even without Cassano and Lontani

Mancini’s latest squad is Italy’s youngest ever, even without Cassano and Lontani Roberto Mancini’s latest national team squad is Italy’s youngest ever, even without 17-year-old Riccardo Cassano or 18-year-old Simone Lontani factored in. Last week, Mancini named a squad of 31 players for November’s Nations League fixtures against France and Belgium coming up on Thursday and Sunday evenings respectively. BOLOGNA – OCTOBER 05: Roberto Mancini, Manager of Italy, during the national anthem before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Türkiye at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Bologna. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) That squad included surprising call-ups for 17-year-old Cassano, who has not yet made a competitive appearance at club level, and 18-year-old Lontani. Both players will train with the senior squad for a few days before returning to the U18s and U19s where they are expected to earn game time this international break. Even without Cassano and Lontani factored in, the remaining players make up Italy’s youngest ever national team squad with an average age of 24 years and 171 days. Aside from Cassano and Lontani, Mancini’s latest Italy squad includes several more teenagers in Honest Ahanor (18), Matteo Palma (18) and Mattia Liberali (19). Alphadjo Cisse (20), Pio Esposito (21) and Marco Palestra (21) are the next youngest on the list. ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Alphadjo Cisse of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) At 30 years old, Guglielmo Vicario is the oldest member of the current Italy squad. Nicolo Barella (29) is the second-most senior member of the squad, followed by Federico Gatti (28) and Federico Dimarco (28). Current Italy national team squad BOLOGNA – OCTOBER 05: Italy players line up during the national anthem before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Türkiye at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Bologna. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus); Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Marco Palestra (Chelsea), Matteo Palma (Udinese), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta); Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Riccardo Cassano (Como), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Simone Lontani (Parma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham); Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Alphadjo Cisse (Milan), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Mattia Liberali (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese).