Germany and Italy vie for 22‑year‑old Tresoldi after U21 Euro

The 22-year-old striker Nicolo Tresoldi, who plays for Belgian club FC Brugge, is torn between Germany and Italy. Both national associations are vying for his loyalty, but he wants to make his final decision only after the U21 European Championship in the summer of 2027. So far he has already earned 24 caps for the German U21 team and scored twelve goals.

Dual nationality and personal ties

Born in Sardinia, Tresoldi spent part of his childhood there before moving to Germany with his family at the age of 13. He emphasizes that his heart belongs equally to both countries and said in a media briefing: “My heart is 50:50”.

Since 2022 he has been active in the youth teams of the German Football Association. Through his mother he could also be eligible to play for Argentina, underscoring the breadth of his international options.

Talks with the national coaches

German national team coach Jürgen Klopp reached out to Tresoldi and described the conversation as a personal “father‑son talk”. Klopp expressed understanding that Tresoldi does not yet want to decide for the senior national team. Italy’s coach Roberto Mancini also invited the striker, but received the same response: Tresoldi wants to continue playing for Germany’s U21 side for now.

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Under the new U21 coach Antonio Di Salvo, Tresoldi remains loyal to the German team and will once again wear the shirt in the upcoming Saturday European Championship qualifying match. Di Salvo praised the 22‑year‑old’s attitude and emphasized that the decision to stay with the U21 side is a positive sign.

Successful club career in Belgium

In the previous season he scored 19 goals in 40 matches for FC Brugge and became the league’s top scorer, while the team won the championship. Another report, however, cites 23 goals and nine assists in his debut season and highlights his strikes against FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Aston Villa in the Champions League.

Tresoldi plans to make his final national team choice after his second U21 European Championship in the summer of 2027. He said: “I want to play my second European Championship with the U21 – and after that we’ll see how everything proceeds.” Julian Nagelsmann had already noted that he is very close to a World Cup participation in the summer.

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Until he decides, both Germany and Italy remain in contention for the talented striker, while the two associations continue their discussions. The football world watches with anticipation to see which team Tresoldi will represent in the future.