Elia Caprile – From Leeds outcast to Italy call-up & Milan, Inter links | OneFootball

Elia Caprile has received his first call up to the Italian national team, with head coach Gennaro Gattuso impressed by the 24-year-old’s excellent form for Cagliari.

The former Chievo youth prospect joined the Sardinian side on loan from Napoli in January, before the move was made permanent in the summer. Caprile played just six times in his two years in Naples between 2023 and 2025, facing loan spells with Empoli and Cagliari.

Fast forward to now, with 2025 coming to a close, and Caprile must be on cloud nine. He has become a stalwart in I Sardi’s net and was rewarded for his good form when Gattuso called him up to the Azzurri.

It has not been an easy career for the shot-stopper, who faced all sorts of hurdles but has come out better for it as he quickly develops into one of the best keepers of his generation.

EMPOLI, ITALY – APRIL 6: Elia Caprile goalkeeper of Cagliari Calcio reacts during the Serie A match between Empoli and Cagliari at Stadio Carlo Castellani on April 6, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

One-time Leeds player found new energy back in Italy

In 2020, Caprile rejected the opportunity to extend his contract with boyhood club Chievo in favour of a move to English club Leeds United.

Leeds were in the Championship when Caprile joined but the Italian spent most of his time in Yorkshire playing with the U23 side, failing to make a single appearance for Leeds’ first team in his two years at the club.

For the 2021-22 season, when Leeds were promoted back into the Premier League, Caprile was sent home to Italy, for a loan with Serie C club Pro Patria. He impressed greatly in Lombardy and helped the club reach the playoffs.

After his impressive campaign in Italy’s third division, Caprile left Leeds permanently, moving to Serie B side Bari, where he once again had a fantastic season and earned himself a move to Napoli the following summer.

In his first season in Naples, the goalkeeper was sent on loan to fellow Serie A side Empoli, where he did well, before his aforementioned loan to Cagliari in January.

COMO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 08: Elia Caprile of Cagliari Calcio reacts during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on November 08, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Once on the fringes, now the future of Italy, amid Milan & Inter links

Whilst Caprile continues to cement himself as a fan favourite in Sardinia, it is unlikely he will remain there forever.

Current speculation has linked both Inter and Milan with a move for the Italian next summer, as both clubs contend with somewhat of a succession crisis in goal.

For the Nerazzurri, Yann Sommer has just over six months left on his contract and some inconsistency at the start of the season has thus far discouraged the club from renewing his deal.

With Josep Martinez waiting in the wings, Inter do have a back-up for if Sommer leaves but Chivu’s planned integration of the Spaniard into his squad has been delayed after the tragic accident which saw an elderly man lose his life after a collision with Martinez’s car.

Meanwhile, the Rossoneri appear content with Mike Maignan, although the Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer and reportedly only stayed in Lombardy after new Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted that the goalkeeper stay at the club.

For both Milan sides, and presumably a number of top clubs across Italy and Europe, Caprile provides a unique opportunity, to sign a talented young goalkeeper who is proving himself at the highest level, and only shows potential to keep growing.