Samuele Inacio remains eligible to represent Brazil, even if he plays for Italy against Turkiye in the Nations League on Wednesday.
The Borussia Dortmund teenager has been named in Italy’s 23-man squad for the match, which could bring him closer to committing his international future to the Azzurri.
Inacio, the son of former Serie A striker Inacio Pia, holds both Italian and Brazilian passports. He made his senior Italy debut in a friendly against Luxembourg in June under caretaker coach Silvio Baldini.
That appearance did not make him ineligible for Brazil because it came in a non-competitive fixture. The same would apply if he plays against Turkiye, although another appearance for Italy could make a future switch increasingly difficult.
Fifa rules introduced in 2020 allow players to change their international allegiance after three years without playing for a national team. To qualify, they must have made no more than three senior competitive appearances before turning 21 and must not have played at a World Cup or a major continental tournament, including the Euros.
If Inacio features against Turkiye, it would be his first competitive senior appearance for Italy. He would then be unable to represent Brazil for the following three years, but a switch could still remain possible under Fifa regulations if he makes no more than three competitive appearances before his 21st birthday.
A competitive senior appearance after the age of 21 would generally commit a player to the country they represented.
Inacio came through the Atalanta academy and was born in Bergamo, Italy, on April 2, 2008. He has also already played for Italy at youth level.
The 18-year-old is therefore at a significant point in determining his international future, with his possible appearance against Turkiye carrying greater eligibility consequences than his senior debut against Luxembourg.