The second day of work at Coverciano for the national team, who will return to training this afternoon in preparation for Thursday’s match against Belgium. After the usual press conference to kick off the camp by head coach Luciano Spalletti, two of the four new faces in the Azzurri squad met with journalists today in the main hall of the Federal Technical Centre. Opponents on Sunday afternoon in the match between Monza and Roma, Daniel Maldini and Niccolò Pisilli found themselves teammates just a few hours later at Coverciano. Happy and excited for their first call-up to the national team, they are eager to prove they can secure a permanent place in the Azzurri squad.

"I’m very proud", Maldini began. "In the past, I was approached by Venezuela, but I preferred to wait for the right moment to be here. I think it was worth the wait". Niccolò Pisilli didn’t expect to see his name on the list of call-ups: "It’s an honour, a starting point but also a great satisfaction. Being here among all these champions is something wonderful, and I’ll try to learn from each of them".

Sixty-one years after his grandfather Cesare, and over 22 years since his father Paolo’s last of 126 appearances for Italy, Daniel is now tasked with carrying on the Maldini dynasty in the national team. It’s a heavy legacy, a family saga increasingly intertwined with Italy’s footballing history, uniting three different generations: "My family has always been close to me, but we’ve talked little about this call-up. It’s quite a feeling seeing the photos of my father and grandfather here, but I’m focused on the training camp, taking things one day at a time". Carrying such a prominent surname isn’t easy: "Over time, you realize you have to follow your own path, regardless of what others think, whether it’s positive or negative". The player who inspired him the most is Kaká, and the opponent who impressed him the most is Dybala: "The ease with which he does things is incredible".

Having grown up in AC Milan's youth academy, it was only natural for Maldini to make his mark in professional football after gaining experience at La Spezia and Empoli before flourishing at Monza, where he has carved out an increasingly central role in Nesta's squad this season. "He has a delightful playing style, but sometimes he disappears from the match", Spalletti said of him yesterday, adding that the group was missing a player with his characteristics: "The coach's words mean a lot to me. He is absolutely right; I need to try to stay involved in the game as much as possible. I hope to show some good things in training".

Pisilli is also a child of artistry. His father, Francesco, was once a promising talent in Italian tennis, while Niccolò always prioritized football over tennis, embarking on a long journey through the youth ranks of Roma, where he made his debut under José Mourinho and impressed Daniele De Rossi. Upon taking the helm at Roma, when asked who had caught his eye among the young talents at Trigoria, the former coach mentioned "Pisilli", As Spalletti revealed in yesterday's press conference, it was De Rossi himself who endorsed him to the national team coach, highlighting his knack for seeking and finding the goal even in the final training matches: "I want to thank De Rossi, Mourinho, and Juric. I'm here because they believed in me and gave me the chance to play. Gaining experience with the youth teams has certainly helped me".

In recent weeks, Niccolò's life has been a whirlwind of emotions. Surprising everyone, De Rossi started him in Turin against Juventus, and just two weeks later, he secured a comeback victory for Roma and Juric with his first Serie A goal against Venezia. Now that he was increasingly finding his footing in Nunziata's Under-21 squad, he also received his first call-up to the senior national team: “My goal is to improve day by day. I will give my all to prove that I deserve to be here”. He also hopes to remain with the squad next year: “Playing in a World Cup is the biggest dream every child has when they start playing football; I wish for it with all my heart”.

DI GREGORIO. The other two Azzurri making their debut call-up to the national team, Michele Di Gregorio and Matteo Gabbia, also spoke to Rai Sport and Vivo Azzurro TV, respectively. “This call-up is an immense joy,”, said the Juventus goalkeeper. “I’ve wanted it for so long, and I can’t wait to help the team. I’ve found a close-knit group that welcomed me warmly”. Born in 1997 in Milan and having grown up in Inter’s youth system, Di Gregorio honed his skills in the lower leagues, travelling all over Italy: “At 19, I was playing in Serie C with Renate, then I spent three years in Serie B and earned promotion with Monza, before arriving at Juventus this summer”. Ten years ago, he first entered the gates of Coverciano with the Under-17 national team: “Now I’m here, and it’s wonderful. I dedicate this to my family, who have always been by my side”.

PLAYERS CALLED UP

Goalkeepers: Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), Caleb Okoli (Leicester), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);
Midfielders: Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Forwards: Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese), Daniel Maldini (Monza), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).