Mancini watches Roma and Atalanta stars ahead of Italy call-ups

Roberto Mancini was present in the stands during the match between AS Roma and Atalanta yesterday, closely watching several players as part of his preparations for the upcoming Italy squad, with a particular focus on some young and outstanding names in Serie A.

Mancini is particularly focused on defenders Gianluca Mancini and Giorgio Scalvini, with their inclusion in Italy's squad for the Nations League looking almost certain. Gaetano is also receiving special attention as a potential surprise in the midfield position.

The coach is monitoring Lorenzo Cristante's situation as he continues to deliver consistent performances with AS Roma, but age will be a factor when making the final decision regarding his call-up, as Mancini is looking to give opportunities to several young players.

In contrast, Niccolò Pisilli's call-up does not seem certain, especially as the Italy U21 team prepares to face Poland on October 5 in Pescara, a crucial match in the race for direct qualification to the UEFA European Championship, where Mancini prefers not to weaken the youth team's ranks.

This comes as part of a broader vision for the Italian Football Federation, which is also preparing to build a generation capable of competing in the Olympic Games 2028, making the process of selecting players between the senior national team and the Under-21s a sensitive issue in the upcoming period.