Italy ‘to hand shock national team debut to highly-rated teen striker wanted by Brazil’

ITALY could be set to hand a competitive debut to highly-rated youngster Samuele Inacio to fend off interest from Brazil. Inacio, 18, is a Borussia Dortmund starlet who is beginning to make waves since making his first-team debut last season. Samuele Inacio could receive a shock senior call up for Italy to fend off interest from Brazil Credit: Getty Brazil scouts watched as the teenager scored the opener in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-1 win over Arsenal Credit: Getty Born in Bergamo, Italy to a Brazilian father playing in Serie A at the time, Inacio is eligible to play for either nation. So far in his career he has chosen the country of his birth, being capped at a number of age groups in Italy’s youth system. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! He even made his senior debut earlier this year in a friendly against Luxembourg. But Brazil scouts are said to be circling, given that the youngster is free to change allegiances until he makes his first competitive appearance for either country. Gianluca DiMarzio reported that the national team, currently fronted by Carlo Ancelotti, sent scouts to watch Inacio as Dortmund took on Arsenal in a pre-season friendly at the weekend. In that case, they watched him open the scoring against the Premier League champions just seven minutes into the contest, helping his side to an eventual 3-2 win. The Italian football insider went on to suggest Italy under new manager Roberto Mancini are eager to lock the starlet down before his head can be turned. They could even cap him at the earliest opportunity, the September international break, to commit his future to Italy, where reports say his loyalties still lie for the time being. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Inacio came through Atalanta’s youth system, before making the switch to the German giants two years ago. His father, Pia, also broke through at Atalanta, before spells with Napoli, Torino and Lecce among others – though he was never capped by his nation. If Inacio did decide to make the switch, it would not be the first time a player has made a change after being capped by their nation. Former Chelsea star Diego Costa switched his allegiance from Brazil to Spain in 2014 after receiving two caps. Declan Rice also famously made three appearances for the Republic of Ireland before committing his future to England. Comment now