Mancini surprises with ex‑Anderlecht call-up to Squadra Azzurra

In Rome's press room, Roberto Mancini unveiled on Friday his first squad since his return, sparking surprise by seeing the former Anderlecht striker, the young Sebastiano Esposito, listed among the 34 Azzurri who will face Belgium in the Nations League.

A squad for the Nations League

Belgium will face Italy in the Nations League, a clash that promises to be decisive for both teams. Mancini selected 34 players for the next four fixtures, including nine who are discovering the Azzurri group for the first time. Among them, the 23‑year‑old Sebastiano Esposito, a striker from Sassuolo, receives his first senior team call‑up. Roberto reminded that each squad must reflect a balance between experience and renewal.

He also finds his brother Pio, an Inter striker, in the same Italian squad. Esposito had already played in the youth teams of the Squadra Azzurra, but had never been called up to the A team.

Esposito’s brief spell at Anderlecht

In the summer of 2022, Esposito joined Anderlecht's Sporting on loan from Inter, the Belgian club betting on his offensive potential. However, his stay at Lotto Park was cut short, the loan being terminated in January 2023.

Mancini weighs Pio and Kean duo for the match against Belgium

He wore the Red Devils' shirt only 21 times, including 14 in the league and 7 in the Conference League, scoring only two goals, against Westerlo in September and West Ham in October, both 2‑1 defeats. These modest performances were not enough to extend his adventure in Brussels.

After the loan ended, Inter sent him to Bari, a Serie B club, where he continued his development before settling at Sassuolo. Today, his strong start to the season at Sassuolo convinced Mancini to select him.

Mancini scores a brace on debut against Belgium: channel and streaming

Esposito’s presence on the Italian list adds an unexpected note to an already packed schedule, with Italy set to face Belgium, France and Turkey twice each. This choice reflects the player’s perseverance, who hopes to turn this opportunity into international minutes.