In a league struggling for goals (just 244 after 11 matchdays, 57 fewer than last season) Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini has already found the net five times, more than star strikers like Lautaro (4), Vlahović (3) and Kean (2). Alongside Inter’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu, another midfielder with a striker’s instinct, he tops the Serie A scorers list. His Bologna side are also flying high: fifth in the table, just three points behind leaders Inter and Roma, after a strong win over Napoli.

“I’ve hit double figures in each of the last three seasons,” Orsolini said. “I’m happy with my numbers. I focus on myself and my team – the rest I can’t control. Maybe defences have just got stronger.”

Now a key figure under Thiago Motta’s successor Vincenzo Italiano, Orsolini says maturity has changed his game.

“I’m at an age where I understand things I didn’t before. Growing up helps you notice all those little details you once ignored. We’ve been on an important journey at Bologna over the last few years, and it’s helped all of us improve. We have fun, and Bologna is a great environment where young players fit in perfectly.”

A smiling Riccardo Orsolini with coach Gennaro Gattuso

ITALIANO AND GATTUSO

Orsolini earned his first Italy call-up from Luciano Spalletti in 2023, three years after his debut under Roberto Mancini in 2019. Though he missed out on the final Euro squad, he’s determined to make his mark this time.

“I’m proud of the path I’ve taken. I want to keep this place in the national team. When Gattuso arrived, he brought new energy. Maybe the group had been a little flat before, but he restored calm and confidence. We work hard, with intensity and enthusiasm – that’s how you build a strong group and a winning mentality.”

Now 27, Orsolini is a reliable attacking threat for both club and country.

“My strengths are unpredictability, dribbling, creating overloads out wide. Italiano has helped me a lot with both phases of play, and he’s taught me what I was missing to become a complete player.”

Orsolini has scored two goals in 12 appearances for Italy: one on his debut against Armenia in 2019, and one from the spot against Estonia in 2020. He hopes to end his international goal drought in the upcoming qualifiers against Moldova and Norway:

“Until it’s mathematically impossible, I’ll believe in direct qualification. We’re focused on these two games; we want to perform well and keep our momentum.”

He’s also ready to adapt his role.

“I’ll play wherever the coach needs me – even in goal if it helps the team! The national team comes before any personal goals.”

WORLD CUP DREAM

Orsolini has already played at a World Cup: the U20 tournament in South Korea in 2017, where Italy reached the semi-finals and he won the Golden Boot with five goals.

“Playing at a World Cup with the senior team would be the pinnacle of my career. Just thinking about an Italy side missing out gives me anxiety. We have a moral duty, to ourselves and to all Italians.”

Another international at Coverciano: Larissa Iapichino with Ricardo Calafiori

SPECIAL GUEST AT COVERCIANO

Italian long jumper Larissa Iapichino, European silver medallist in Rome 2024, visited Coverciano and the Football Museum before joining the Azzurri for lunch.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (AC Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Roma)

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Samuele Ricci (AC Milan), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)

Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atlético Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)

GROUP I – FIXTURES AND STANDINGS

13 November – 18:00 CET: Norway–Estonia (Oslo)

13 November – 20:45 CET: Moldova–Italy (Chișinău)

16 November – 20:45 CET: Israel–Moldova (Debrecen)

16 November – 20:45 CET: Italy–Norway (Milan)

Group table: Norway 18 pts (6 matches), Italy 15 (6), Israel 9 (7), Estonia 4 (7), Moldova 1 (6)