Italy win the battle for a gem! Dortmund talent rejects Brazil for the Azzurri
The fight between two football superpowers for one of Europe's brightest teenagers is over. Samuele Inacio has chosen Italy, turning his back on Brazil.
Details: According to Fabrizio Romano, the Borussia Dortmund forward will represent Italy and not Brazil. The decision became final after the 18-year-old was included in Roberto Mancini's first squad of the new cycle for the Nations League.
Inacio, born on April 2, 2008, held dual nationality and was eligible for both countries, making him one of the most coveted dual-national talents in world football. The striker, son of former footballer Piá who once played in Italy for Atalanta, joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024 and made his professional debut last February in a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich, going on to make seven league appearances in the 2025/26 season. Italy moved fast: interim coach Silvio Baldini handed him a first call-up back in May, and now Mancini has included the teenager in his squad for the Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Türkiye and France. If Inacio plays in a competitive match, he will be cap-tied to the Azzurri forever. For Brazil, losing such a prospect is a painful blow amid their ongoing attacking rebuild under Carlo Ancelotti, while for Italy it is a symbolic victory that confirms the federation's new strategy of locking down the best young dual nationals early.
It's worth noting that Inacio follows the path of players like Jorginho and Thiago Motta, who also chose the Italy shirt despite their Brazilian roots.
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Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
