Reports from Monday reveal that the Italian national team made significant efforts to persuade Barcelona`s star player Raphinha to represent Italy while Roberto Mancini was still managing the team in 2020.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) made “strong attempts” to convince Raphinha to play for Italy in 2020, before he made his senior debut with Brazil in 2021. At the time, the 28-year-old was playing for Leeds United in the Premier League, prior to his high-profile transfer to Barcelona in the summer of 2022.
Raphinha`s Italian Heritage and Eligibility
Raphinha was eligible to play for Italy through his father, Rafael Dias Belloli, who has Italian ancestry. This connection also allows Raphinha to hold an Italian passport, which means he doesn`t count as a non-EU player in Barcelona`s squad despite representing Brazil internationally.
Barcelona director Deco confirmed in 2021 that the FIGC had approached Raphinha, stating in an interview: “There was a strong inquiry from the Italian federation last year.”
Italian-Brazilians in the Azzurri
Had Raphinha chosen to play for Italy, he would have joined other Italian-Brazilians in Mancini`s squad. Players like Jorginho, Emerson Palmieri, and Rafael Toloi, all with Brazilian heritage, were part of the Italian team that won UEFA Euro 2020 in the summer of 2021.
Despite Italy`s efforts, Raphinha ultimately chose to represent Brazil, making his debut for the Seleção in 2021 and solidifying his place in the national team setup.