Mancini focuses on the youngsters: Romano debuts for the national team
Alessandro Romano, Class 2006, was chosen by Roberto Mancini for his debut with the national team against Belgium.
Mancini's Choice and the Push for Youth
Mancini has renewed the policy of bringing young players into the national team to “turn a new page”. Last year he had already shown that he does not let a player's age dictate his selection, calling up Nicolò Zaniolo before his Serie A debut. For the first matches of the new cycle, he has summoned several debutants, including the Cagliari midfielder Class 2006, Alessandro Romano.
In the first Nations League match against Belgium, which ended 0-2, Romano had to face midfielders De Bruyne and Tielemans, feeling the pressure from the first minute. The excitement affected his play: he lost the ball in the central area, giving the advantage to Van Bommel's side, which scored through Godts. Despite the mistake, ROMANO showed character, seeking passes and never pulling his foot back. He was substituted by Frattesi a little under half an hour from the end, after accumulating roughly thirty minutes on the pitch.
The Transfer and Romano's Future
Romano arrived at Cagliari last summer, coming from Roma's youth sector and a loan spell at Spezia.
Inter count on Calha's return as Serie A restarts on Saturday
The CAGLIARI club formalized the move with a loan WITH a buy‑back clause set at €4.9 million, which will become mandatory in the event of the club's survival.
The clause was inserted to guarantee the Sardinian club the possibility of acquiring the player permanently, who has already shown his qualities in Serie A.
In the event of a permanent purchase, Romano has signed a contract that expires in June 2031, securing a long‑term presence for Cagliari. The contract also includes bonuses linked to national team performances, reflecting the growing interest in the youngster. The extended duration makes the deal attractive for top‑level clubs that are monitoring his development.
Milan, Juventus and Inter have already indicated close monitoring of Romano, considering him a potential reinforcement. Early market estimates place him at around €20 million, a figure that could rise if the player continues to feature regularly for the national team. For now, the youngster remains at Cagliari, where he hopes to consolidate his experience in Serie A and earn further minutes with the blue shirt.