Nicolò Fagioli just landed an Italy recall after two years, and the 25-year-old midfielder was instantly thrown into the starting XI for Monday’s 4-1 victory in Turkiye. He straight up admitted he “didn’t expect” to get the call, let alone start, but after that impressive performance, he’s absolutely in the mix to feature against France on Friday as the Nations League Group A fixtures roll on. This dude is fired up, and it sounds like he’s ready to put the past behind him and chase his biggest dream.
From Two Years Out To Facing Zidane’s France
It’s wild how fast things can change in international soccer. Fagioli hadn’t worn the Azzurri colors since their 4-1 win over Israel way back in October 2024. Talk about being out of the picture! Now, he’s not just back, he’s looking at a showdown with one of the best teams on the planet. He’s moved to Fiorentina from Juventus back in January 2025, grinding away. You can feel the emotion when he talks about it. “Facing a France side full of champions and with Zinedine Zidane on the touchline will be an indescribable emotion,” Fagioli told RAI Sport. He knows this is a huge moment for Italy. “It’s a wonderful challenge for all of us, really putting us to the test, because we have to prove what we can do on the pitch.” And for him personally? He might not have expected it, but he hoped for it, and his “biggest dream is to go to the World Cup with Italy.” That’s the kind of ambition we love to see.
A Comeback For The Ages After Personal Battles
It hasn’t been an easy road for Fagioli. His career almost got derailed hard by an online gambling addiction, which led to him handing himself in and copping an eight-month ban in 2023. That’s a serious hurdle to overcome, but it sounds like he’s truly grown from it. He says he’s “matured a great deal” and feels “more sure of myself, more ready to step up in some situations, and more determined in others.” He even calls a “certain fragility” a quality, which is a pretty introspective take. He knew he had to improve, and he clearly put in the work, because now he feels “confident that I can do well.” That kind of mental toughness is exactly what Italy needs as they navigate these tough international matches.
Italy’s Confidence Boost And What’s Next
The win against Turkiye was a crucial one, especially after their tough 2-0 defeat to Belgium just a few days earlier. Fagioli himself called the Turkiye performance “night and day” compared to the Belgium game. “It was important to bring home a result, both for the table and to boost our confidence,” he said, even acknowledging a “good reaction after the break” against Belgium. That tells you the squad is learning and adapting, which is huge early in the season. Now, all eyes are on Friday. France is a monster opponent, loaded with talent, and it’s going to be a true test for Italy, and especially for Fagioli as he tries to solidify his spot and keep that World Cup dream alive. Let’s see if he can keep that momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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