International call-ups are often reserved for players who have distinguished themselves as in-form stars at club level.
Italy manager Roberto Mancini attracted attention by including 17-year-old Como midfielder Riccardo Cassano in his squad for the November Nations League fixtures.
The 17-year-old midfielder has yet to make his competitive debut for Como's first team, but Mancini has included him in Italy's 31-man squad for the Nations League matches against France and Belgium.
Who is Riccardo Cassano? Como's teenage midfield prospect
Mancini's squad includes several young players, including Honest Ahanor, Alphadjo Cisse, and Issa Doumbia, but the inclusion of Cassano was the most eye-catching, certainly.
Born on March 18, 2009, in Como, Italy, young Riccardo represents the pure modern embodiment of an elite Italian regista.
The young midfielder is a deep-lying playmaker who developed through the youth system of his hometown club, Como.
The teenager has progressed through Como's academy system, earning opportunities with the club's youth teams and moving closer to first-team football.
He was included in Como's first-team matchday squad twice towards the end of the 2025-26 season but did not make an appearance.
Operating at the base of midfield, Cassano is described as a technically gifted playmaker whose game revolves around his passing, awareness and ability to dictate the tempo.
The Fabregas connection: Comparisons to Busquets and Pirlo
Como manager Cesc Fabregas has extensive experience as a technically gifted midfielder, making his influence an interesting part of Cassano's development.
The Spaniard played alongside Sergio Busquets for club and country, and is best equipped to mentor the teenage Italian to rely on technique over brute strength in his position.
Recognizing his protege's rare vision and composure in front of the defense, Fabregas has personally overseen his integration into senior tactical sessions.
Cassano has also had opportunities to train and play alongside Como's senior players, although his competitive experience has primarily come through the club's youth teams.
Cassano has worked with Fabregas and has shown the ability to dictate tempo through intelligent positioning, crisp progressive passing, and clean defensive interceptions.
His role as a deep-lying playmaker may invite comparisons with Italian midfield great Andrea Pirlo, although Cassano is still at an early stage of his development.
Why Riccardo Cassano has attracted attention from Italy
For a player who only just celebrated his maiden invitation to Como's senior training sessions a few months ago, the call from Mancini must have come as a pleasant surprise.
Cassano's first senior Italy call-up represents a significant step in his development, although he will only spend part of the international camp with Mancini's squad before joining the Under-18 side.
He has been a regular in the UEFA Youth League this season, scoring once in four appearances, and has appeared eight times for Como's U-20 team in the Campionato Primavera 1.
Mancini’s decision to fast-track a 17-year-old midfielder directly into senior contention underscores the Azzurri’s commitment to building a technically dominant engine room.
Cassano is set to join Italy's Under-18 squad after his brief involvement with the senior team, giving him another opportunity to continue his development at international level.
Mancini has already done something similar in the past with Nicolo Zaniolo, who received his first senior call-up at 19 before he played his first game in Serie A back in 2018.
The general expectation is that Cassano will likely not feature, but he wouldn't be the first youngster to prove their worth in stunning fashion in international football this year, if he did.
What young players can learn from Riccardo Cassano's development
Young players can benefit from learning from experienced coaches and senior teammates, using every training opportunity to improve their understanding of the game.
This attribute allows young talents to accelerate their tactical intelligence and decision-making on the pitch.
Maintaining consistent standards in training is equally important, as young players need to be ready when an unexpected opportunity to work with the first team arrives.
Young players should remain focused on their development, even when unexpected opportunities bring them into the spotlight.
Staying grounded can help young players manage the attention that comes with new opportunities while keeping their focus on long-term improvement.
