Let’s recap the Azzurri history of Luciano Spalletti’s three latest players to receive their first senior call-up: Raol Bellanova is the only player to play at every level of the Youth Sector, Lorenzo Lucca picked up some appearances in the Under 21s over the last few years, and Michael Folorunsho is one of the rare players to receive a senior call-up without ever playing for the Azzurrini. 

Bellanova’s first experience with Italy came at 14 years and 9 months with the Under 15s: 17 February 2015, in Catanzaro, Italy 2-1 Belgium. Since then, in just over 9 years, he has had 100 call-ups (72 Milan, 8 Cagliari and Inter, 7 Pescara, 5 Bordeaux) and 88 caps in the Azzurri Youth Sector, right up to the Under 21s. 

Lucca entered the ranks with the Under 21s: 8 call-ups, 6 caps, and 2 goals (against Sweden and the Republic of Ireland), between September 2021 and November 2022. Folorunsho came up at Lazio and then went on loan in Serie C and Serie B, the scouting team’s work is never done.