Sporting new boy pre-called up for the Nations League | OneFootball

Sporting has received major news regarding one of the signings made in this transfer window. Issa Doumbiais among the players who have caught Roberto Mancini’s attention for Italy’s upcoming fixtures. The preliminary call-up comes after an outstanding season from the player, who stood out while playing for his former club.

The midfielder is not, however, the only name with a past linked to this process. Mohamed Alì Zoma, with whom Doumbia came through the youth ranks at Albinoleffe, was also included in the Italian coach’s preliminary squad. The call-up represents an important step, and he may now face a hugely significant decision for the future of his career.

Issa Doumbia’s 2025/26 season was key in drawing the attention of the Azzurri setup. The 22-year-old footballer shone for Venezia in a campaign that ended with the club’s promotion to Serie A, establishing himself as one of the team’s key players.

The situation becomes even more significant because Doumbia also had the option of representing Ivory Coast. The player has that connection and had already been linked with the African national team, but a place in Italy’s final squad could permanently change that scenario. If he is called up and used by Roberto Mancini, the Lions’ midfielder will no longer be able to choose the 'Elephants' later on.

Italy are preparing to begin a new cycle after the huge disappointment caused by missing out on the World Cup for the third time in a row. The Azzurri will face Belgium, Turkey, Turkey again and France in the Nations League, with the first fixtures scheduled for late September and early October.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.