Romano: Ranieri call sealed Italy switch over Switzerland

A 20-year-old raised in Switzerland has chosen Italy — and credits Claudio Ranieri for picking up the phone.

A. Romano

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What happened. Alessandro Romano has explained his decision to represent Italy at senior level rather than Switzerland, whom he represented in youth categories. He said Claudio Ranieri contacted him and credited both Ranieri and Italy coach Roberto Mancini in his choice.

• He was born and raised in Switzerland to Italian parents from Naples and Apulia.
• He moved to Italy at 16 to join the Roma academy from FC Winterthur.
• He scored on his first Serie A appearance of the 2026-27 season for Cagliari.

“The possibility of this happening is what drove me every day.”

— Alessandro Romano

Romano is in Mancini's 34-man Italy squad for the September-October Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Turkiye and France.

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