Casadei auditions in front of Spalletti: Italy national team hopes after first Serie A goal | OneFootball

Italy U21 star Cesare Casadei scored the first Serie A goal of his career during Torino’s 2-0 victory away against Monza on Sunday, which was seen in the flesh by Italy national team head coach Luciano Spalletti, who could include the 22-year-old in his next Nations League squad.

Casadei joined Torino in a permanent move from Premier League side Chelsea in January, having spent the last two years on the Londoners’ books, but ultimately failing to break into the first-team picture under Enzo Maresca.

He has lined up as a starter in each of Torino’s last three Serie A matches, and got the first goal of his Granata career with a well-taken finish from the edge of the six-yard box against struggling Monza on Sunday.

Casadei’s goal against Monza was the first top-flight goal of his career in any country and his first in a league match in almost two years, dating back to a 2-1 Leicester City loss against Blackburn in the Championship on March 15, 2023, while he was on loan from Chelsea.

Spalletti watches on as Casadei auditions for Italy national team

epa11659417 Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Italy, reacts during the UEFA Nations League A soccer match Italy vs Israel in Udine, Italy, 14 October 2024. EPA-EFE/DAVIDE CASENTINI

In attendance for Torino’s victory over Monza was Italy national team head coach Spalletti, according to reports from Calciomercato.com.

Sunday’s report claims that the CT is considering handing the 22-year-old his first call-up to the senior national team for the upcoming Nations League quarter-final against Germany in March.

Casadei has been a regular at every Azzurri youth level, and was particularly impressive with the U20 side, winning the golden ball and golden booth at the U20 World Cup in 2023.