Cassano: ‘Mancini has given me a wonderful opportunity, a dream come true’

Riccardo Cassano in pre-season action with Como (@richi. cassa through Instagram)
Riccardo Cassano has actually discussed the ‘fantastic chance’he has actually been handed by Italy nationwide group head coach Roberto Mancini and states that his call-up to the senior team is’a dream come to life’.

Cassano talks Italy call-up and U17 World Cup hopes

17-year-old Cassano was the most unexpected addition in Mancini’s newest Italy nationwide group squad. His very first call-up came before his very first competitive look for Como’s senior side: All of his looks at club level this season have actually come either in the Primavera league or in the UEFA Youth League.

• Find out more: Mancini’s newest Italy is his youngest ever, even without Cassano and Lontani

Coach Roberto Mancini throughout an Italy training session (@azzurri)

The skilled teen has actually been provided a chance to train with the senior team and show his worth in front of Mancini and his personnel for the very first couple of days of the worldwide break, however will then hang back down the age ahead of the upcoming U17 World Cup in Qatar starting next week.

Cassano has actually discussed his very first call-up to the senior Italy team in an interview on the Como site

“Head coach Roberto Mancini has actually provided me a terrific chance– a dream become a reality for anybody my age,” stated the 17-year-old Cassano.

“I ‘d like to thank everybody who has actually assisted me attain this little objective: from the Primavera supervisor Gianluca Falsini to the first-team supervisor Cesc Fàbregas, in addition to all the coaches I’ve had more than the years.

COMO, ITALY– NOVEMBER 01: Cesc Fabregas, Manager of Como 1907, praises the fans after the Serie A match in between Como 1907 and Venezia FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on November 01, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I simply need to thank everybody who has actually supported me and who continues to support me on this journey.”

Cassano wishes to take advantage of his very first couple of days with the senior Italy team before participating in the U17 World Cup in Qatar.

“I’ll attempt to maximize this chance to be phoned to the senior nationwide group by revealing Coach Mancini what I’m capable of. Another fantastic experience awaits me: the World Cup in Qatar. We’re a strong team; in my viewpoint, we’ve got all the best qualities to go a long method.”