Italy coach reveals he has been monitoring Fiorentina, Burnley teenagers of Nigerian descent 

Italy's national team coach  Luciano Spalletti has confirmed that he has been keeping tabs on eight players including two teenagers of Nigerian descent with a view to a possible call-up to gli Azzurri ahead of this year's European Championship. 

Fiorentina fullback Michael Kayode and Burnley dazzler Luca Koleosho are in the plans of Spalletti ahead of Euro 2024.

Kayode and Koleosho were members of the Italy squad that won the 2023 European U19 Championship with the former netted the winning goal in the showpiece versus Portugal. 

The duo have been promoted to Italy's U21 national team and have both debuted for the squad coached by Carmine Nunziata.

Koleosho was born in Connecticut, United States to a Nigerian father and Italian-Canadian mother which makes him eligible to play international football for USA, Nigeria, Italy and Canada. 

Former Juventus youth teamer Kayode was born in Borgomanero and is eligible for the Super Eagles through his father.

Speaking about the young players being monitored for the senior national team, Spalletti told Repubblica: "Players like Kayode, Ranieri, Koleosho and Casadei have emerged. We've been monitoring them for a while. 

"Bove is now a certainty and I've liked Lucca's behaviour lately. Then Prati and Calafiori who is a certainty on the left and centre, and is ready for the national team."

Should Kayode, Koleosho and Tottenham Hotspur left-back Destiny Udogie make an appearance for Italy at the 2024 European Championship, they would no longer be eligible to represent the Super Eagles. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: figc.it

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