Italy Fast-Tracks Samuele Inacio Amid Brazil's Interest

Italy are preparing to fast‑track 18-year-old forward Samuele Inacio into competitive action with the senior national team in September, as Brazil step up their efforts to secure the Borussia Dortmund talent for themselves.

The tug of war has started early.

A Dual-Nation Gem

Inacio sits at the heart of a classic international dilemma. Born in Bergamo to an Italian mother and a Brazilian father, Pia – a former forward who turned out for Atalanta, Napoli and several other Italian clubs – the teenager is eligible for both the Azzurri and the Selecao.

He has already had a taste of the Italy setup. Interim coach Silvio Baldini handed him a first senior cap in June in a friendly against Luxembourg, a nod to his rapid rise through the youth ranks and his reputation as one of Italy’s brightest prospects.

But that game did not settle anything. Because it was only a friendly, FIFA rules still allow Inacio to choose between Italy and Brazil for competitive fixtures. The door remains wide open.

Brazil Step Out of the Shadows

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Brazil have made their interest concrete. Scouts from the Brazilian national team were in London recently to watch Inacio in a pre-season friendly between Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal at the Emirates Cup.

Under the lights at Emirates Stadium, with the new season looming, the teenager had more than club coaches watching his every touch. Brazil’s presence underlined how seriously they view his potential, and how eager they are to move quickly.

The Selecao are said to be considering capping him in an official competition as soon as possible, a move that would lock him into their setup for years.

Italy Ready to Respond

Italy do not intend to stand back and watch. Thursday’s reports suggest Inacio’s priority remains with the Azzurri, and the federation is working on a plan to give him minutes in a competitive fixture in the near term, potentially as early as September.

The strategy is clear: get him on the pitch in an official match, secure his international future, and build around a forward they believe can lead the next generation.

For now, Inacio continues his development at Borussia Dortmund, caught between two giants of world football. The next time he pulls on a national team shirt, it may well decide the rest of his international career.