Alessandro Romano: Who Is the Player Who Changed Nationalities and Has His Sights Set on Euro 2028?

Alessandro Romano, one of the most intriguing new faces in Serie A for the 2026–2027 season and a standout performer so far this season with Cagliari, has made a decision that is set to shape his career: FIFA has approved his change of sporting nationality, and as of today, he is eligible to play for the Italian national team. This move opens up significant possibilities ahead of Euro 2028, where his name could become more than just a possibility as early as the qualifying rounds.

Romano was born in Winterthur, Switzerland, on June 17, 2006: raised in a family deeply connected to soccer, he is the son of Umberto, a former player born and raised in Zurich, and the brother of Luca, who currently plays professionally for SC Kriels in Switzerland’s second division. His roots, however, are distinctly Italian: his paternal grandparents were originally from Naples, and his maternal grandparents from Puglia.

Having come up through Winterthur’s youth system, he was scouted by Roma in 2022, which brought him to Trigoria to join its youth academy. With the Giallorossi youth teams, he became a mainstay in front of the defense, praised by Gianluca Falsini—then head coach of the Giallorossi youth system—for his character and consistency. In 2025, he was promoted to the first team, and on January 6, 2026, he made his Serie A debut against Lecce.

Midway through the 2025–26 season, Roma decided to send him on a six-month loan to Spezia in Serie B, where Romano earned playing time, took on greater responsibility, and found the ideal environment to accelerate his development. The year 2026 marked the definitive turning point: following his loan stint in Liguria came a move to Cagliari, which entrusted him with a central role in its technical project. Despite playing only a few matches, Romano has already established himself with the Rossoblù as one of the most promising young players in the league.

Romano represented Switzerland through the Under-17 level, also participating in the 2023 Under-17 European Championship. But his long-held desire was to wear the Azzurri jersey. FIFA has now approved his request to change his sporting nationality: Romano is officially eligible to be called up by Italy. His age (he’ll be 22 by the time Euro 2028 rolls around), his position, and his steady development make him a natural candidate for the Azzurri’s new era under head coach Roberto Mancini.