The second spell of Roberto Mancini on the bench of the National Team is about to officially get underway. Tomorrow, Friday, September 18, the head coach will announce the chosen squad list to face the first four matches of the Nations League 2026/27.

The starting point is particularly broad: nearly 70 players have been pre-selected, from which a group of about 30 will be chosen, including four goalkeepers. This initial list will mainly serve to understand the direction Mancini wants to give to the National Team after his return.

Doumbia, Romano, and Zoma Set for Their First Call-Up

Lead-up indications point above all to three possible debutants: Issa Doumbia, Alessandro Romano, and Mohamed Alì Zoma. Three players with very different backgrounds, all having the opportunity to join the senior national squad for the first time.

Doumbia, born in 2003, is making an impression at Sporting after his experience at Venezia. The midfielder has started as a regular in all six of the opening matches of the Portuguese league, in which he has also recorded an assist. His Champions League debut of the season was also noteworthy: 27 completed passes out of 30, with a 90% accuracy rate—figures that speak volumes about his ability to bring order to the team’s play.

Even more surprising is Alessandro Romano’s start of the season. The 2006-born midfielder, who joined Cagliari on loan from Roma, has played every one of the 360 minutes in the first four games of Serie A, always starting.

He also scored his first top-flight goal on matchday one against Parma. In the opening four games, he has won seven tackles, underlining his significant presence also in the off-ball phase. Romano, born in Switzerland and raised in the Swiss youth squads, has chosen to represent Italy.

Among the fresh faces is also expected to be Zoma, a 2003-born forward at Nuremberg, who was raised at Albinoleffe and moved to Germany in 2025. A different profile compared to the other strikers available and another sign of Mancini’s determination to broaden the Azzurri talent pool.

Kayode in the Running, Watch Out for Pessina

The novelties might not stop there. Michael Kayode remains close to a call-up, while Marco Palestra’s fitness conditions make the presence of the wide man more complicated. In goal, Massimo Pessina, Bologna’s 2007-born goalkeeper, is in contention for a possible fourth spot behind Donnarumma, Carnesecchi, and Vicario.

The youth movement, however, will have to coexist with the needs of the U21 team, which is engaged in key fixtures on its own international path. Therefore, Mancini is not expected to indiscriminately take all the best young players away from the age-group side.

Tomorrow the First Snapshot of Mancini’s Second Era

It won’t be a complete revolution, at least initially. Alongside the newcomers, the core of players already firmly established in the Azzurri setup will remain. But the direction is clear: boosting competition and closely watching a generation starting to earn regular spots at club level as well.

Tomorrow, rumors will finally give way to the official selections. From nearly 70 pre-called players, about 30 names will remain: it will be the first true picture of Italy under Mancini’s new regime.