Italy beats Turkey but Samuele Inacio stays on the bench: future uncertain
Roberto Mancini's Azzurri beat Turkey 3-1 at home, keeping the race to the Nations League quarter‑finals alive. On the same evening, the 2008‑born Borussia Dortmund striker Samuele Inacio remained on the bench, accumulating zero minutes in four call‑ups.
Victory against Turkey
The 3‑1 result allows the Azzurri to stay firmly in the race for qualification to the Nations League quarter‑finals. The match was played at the home stadium, where the team displayed tactical superiority. The victory was sealed with a goal in the 70th minute.
This fixture concluded a tour de force of four consecutive matches, the result of a long maxi‑break for the national teams. In these four matchdays many players found space and minutes. The coach experimented with various solutions.
Among the call‑ups there was great anticipation for the debut of Samuele Inacio, the 2008‑born Borussia Dortmund striker. The youngster is the son of Inacio Pia, former Brazilian forward of Napoli and Atalanta. His inclusion in the squad was seen as a possible “anti‑poaching” for Brazil.
Mancini sees Pio Esposito reaching Vieri and Toni's level within two years
The missed debut
Despite the call‑up, Inacio logged zero minutes in four games, including the one against Turkey. He remained on the bench for the entire match, unable to showcase his abilities. His “anti‑poaching” debut did not materialise.
Roberto Mancini said: “I know Inacio is a boy who needs to get some appearances to be ‘ours’ and so he doesn’t think about going elsewhere with another shirt. But I believe he is already… committed because he has played all the youth levels with Italy. If we think he can come in and play, that’s wrong, because he needs time: he’s a boy who also physically has to develop. However, he has important qualities.” Mancini reiterated the need to give the youngster time.
The opportunity also vanished due to Vergara’s injury in the final minutes and the tactical substitution of Scamacca for Pio Esposito. These choices shut the door on the “gift” of a debut that would also have had the value of an “anti‑poaching”. Without official minutes, the three‑year block for Brazil was not triggered.
Brazil, led by Carlo Ancelotti, could still try to persuade Inacio to answer a call‑up. In any case, the youngster has repeatedly stated that he dreams of defending Italy’s colours. What future awaits him? What decision the Italian head coach will make remains open.