Italy Set to Give Surprising National Team Debut to Highly Coveted Teen Striker Pursued by Brazil

ITALY could be set to hand a competitive debut to highly-rated youngster Samuele Inacio to fend off interest from Brazil.

Inacio, 18, is a starlet who is beginning to make waves since making his first-team debut last season.

Born in Bergamo, to a Brazilian father playing in at the time, Inacio is eligible to play for either nation.

So far in his career he has chosen the country of his birth, being capped at a number of age groups in Italy’s youth system.

He even made his senior debut earlier this year in a friendly against Luxembourg.

But scouts are said to be circling, given that the youngster is free to change allegiances until he makes his first competitive appearance for either country.

Gianluca DiMarzio reported that the national team, currently fronted by , sent scouts to watch Inacio as Dortmund took on in a pre-season friendly at the weekend.

In that case, they watched him just seven minutes into the contest, helping his side to an eventual 3-2 win.

The Italian football insider went on to suggest Italy under new manager are eager to lock the starlet down before his head can be turned.

They could even cap him at the earliest opportunity, the September international break, to commit his future to Italy, where reports say his loyalties still lie for the time being.

Inacio came through Atalanta’s youth system, before making the switch to the German giants two years ago.

His father, Pia, also broke through at Atalanta, before spells with , and Lecce among others – though he was never capped by his nation.

If Inacio did decide to make the switch, it would not be the first time a player has made a change after being capped by their nation.

Former star switched his allegiance from Brazil to Spain in 2014 after receiving two caps.

also famously made three appearances for the before committing his future to .