Another potential Super Eagles star has been lost to a European country
Nigeria’s hopes of convincing midfielder Michael Folorunsho to consider representing the Super Eagles have been dealt a severe blow after the Napoli man, on loan to Verona, was selected for Italy’s preliminary squad for the 2024 European Championships.
Folorunsho on the plane to Euro 2024
Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti has decided to include 26-year-old Folorunsho in his provisional squad for the tournament as one of the best players the country has to offer going into the 2024 Euros in Germany.
The Super Eagles-eligible star had already indicated his interest in playing for Italy, but having played only once for the Azzurri was still a possible candidate for the Nigerian national team.
However, with the call-up for the Euros, Folorunsho’s international future seems to be set in stone with the Rome born star set to follow in the footsteps of stars like Destiny Udogie and Angelo Ogbonna, who are both of Nigerian descent but have pitched their tents with Italy.
Italy’s squad to the Euros
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Ivan Provedel (Lazio), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan), Giovanni di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Michael Folorunsho (Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino)
Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)