Samuele Inacio confirms commitment to Italy over Brazil

Samuele Inacio, one of European football’s most exciting young talents, has officially committed his international future to Italy. The 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund forward, who holds eligibility for both Italy and Brazil, will represent the Azzurri at senior level under coach Roberto Mancini, ending months of speculation about where his allegiances would ultimately fall. A dual identity, a singular choice Born on April 2, 2008, in Bergamo, Italy, to a Brazilian father and an Italian mother, Inacio grew up straddling two footballing cultures. Brazil reportedly expressed interest through the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). Italy, meanwhile, had been nurturing Inacio through their youth system for years. Inacio made his feelings unambiguous, describing himself as “Italianissimo.” His senior debut came on June 3, 2026, when he entered as a substitute in Italy’s 1-0 friendly victory against Luxembourg. Friendly caps, though, don’t lock a player into a national team under FIFA eligibility regulations. Competitive matches do. Mancini is reportedly planning to include Inacio in the squad for matches against Belgium on September 25, 2026, and Turkey on September 28, 2026. If Inaci...