Roberto Mancini Eyes Mohamed Ali Zoma for Italy's Squad

Roberto Mancini is back in charge of Italy and already has one eye on a new attacking weapon: Mohamed Ali Zoma.

The 22-year-old 1. FC Nürnberg winger is emerging as one of the headline candidates for a call-up ahead of Italy’s extended Nations League block in September and October, with several reports in Italy and Germany suggesting his first inclusion in the Azzurri squad is close.

Mancini’s new era, long break, big decisions

Italy face a demanding two-week international window, taking on Belgium, Turkiye, France and then Turkiye again. It will be Mancini’s first set of games since he was brought back to replace Gennaro Gattuso as CT earlier this summer, and the sense is clear: this squad will not be business as usual.

After a disastrous calendar year that ended with Italy missing out on a place at the 2026 World Cup, the Azzurri are under pressure to reset. That means changes. It also means moving quickly on dual-nationality talents before other federations act.

Zoma sits right in the middle of that strategy.

Born and raised in Merate, the Nürnberg winger is eligible for Italy, but he can also represent Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast through his parents. Any first competitive appearance for the Azzurri would effectively lock him in.

From AlbinoLeffe to a €20m asset

Zoma’s rise has not come through the traditional big-academy route. He came through at AlbinoLeffe, playing for both the youth and senior sides in Serie C, before Nürnberg moved for him last summer in a €1.5m deal.

That fee already looks like a bargain.

In the 2. Bundesliga last season, Zoma delivered 19 goal involvements – 14 goals and five assists – in just 29 appearances. He has started the 2026-27 campaign in the same explosive fashion, scoring five times in his first five league matches.

Those numbers have not gone unnoticed. Sky Sport DE journalist Florian Plettenberg reported that several clubs showed interest late in the summer transfer window, but Nürnberg held firm. The German side are said to value him at around €20m and had no intention of cashing in this early.

Mancini watching closely

The interest from Italy is not just speculation. Zoma himself has confirmed direct contact with Mancini.

“It’s true, Roberto Mancini and I have spoken. He said that he is keeping an eye on me and that I should keep going like this, and then we’ll see,” the winger told Sky.

That “we’ll see” now feels like a formality rather than a doubt. Tuttosport describes an Italy call-up as “increasingly close” for the 22-year-old, while TMW goes a step further and predicts he will be named in the next Azzurri squad.

For Mancini, the Nations League window offers more than just a chance to restore Italy’s competitive edge. It gives him room to experiment, to bring in hungry players with something to prove, and to secure talents like Zoma before Burkina Faso or Ivory Coast make their move.

If the Nürnberg winger’s club form holds, the question may no longer be whether Mancini calls him – but how quickly Zoma can turn that faith into a permanent place in Italy’s attacking future.