Ex-Italy star predicts Serie A talent will earn first call-up for World Cup play-off

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·16 January 2026

Ex-Italy star predicts Serie A talent will earn first call-up for World Cup play-off

Ex-Milan and Italy defender Alessandro Costacurta believes Cagliari’s Marco Palestra will be called up to the senior Azzurri squad for the first time in March 2026.

Italian legend Costacurta predicts that Atalanta-owned Palestra, currently on loan at Cagliari, will get his first Italy call-up in March when the Azzurri will play in the World Cup play-off.

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Costacurta: Palestra ideal for four man-defence

CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 02: Marco Palestra of Cagliari in action during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 02, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

“I like Palestra, even if in Cagliari he’s forced to play as a wing-back,” Costacurta told Corriere dello Sport.

“To me, he’d be an excellent full-back in a four-man defence.”

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, issues instructions during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Italy U21 coach Silvio Baldini thinks exactly the same, but Costacurta fears the Azzurrini boss will receive bad news in the coming months.

“I think he’ll lose him [Palestra] in March…”

CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 02: Marco Palestra of Cagliari in action during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 02, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Palestra, 20, has provided three assists in 19 Serie A appearances this season and has played eight matches with the Italy U21 squad.

Italy will host Northern Ireland in the semi-final playoff on March 26, while the potential final will be played away against the winner of Wales-Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.

During the same interview, Costacurta praised his former teammate and coach Carlo Ancelotti, saying that he’s the best manager of all time, on par with Pep Guardiola.