Favasuli called up by Italy Under-21 for Armenia and Poland

Costantino Favasuli has been named in Silvio Baldini's 25-man squad for Italy Under-21's final two qualifiers for Euro 2027, which will be held in Albania and Serbia.

The call-up comes five days after Favasuli's Serie A debut. He came on for Politano at half-time against Bologna and set up Lobotka's goal in the 66th minute, matching the record for a debut assist by a Napoli defender, previously held by Cannavaro and Grava. The full-back had quickly climbed the pecking order in Allegri's defence, but Friday's training session still had him behind Politano in the battle to start away at Fiorentina.

Four uncapped players feature in Baldini's squad — Matteo Cichella, Mattia Liberali, Emanuele Lulli and Luca Reggiani — while Favasuli is the only Serie A club player wearing a Napoli shirt among the 25. The group gathers on Monday 21 September at the CPO in Tirrenia, the same day McTominay returns to Castel Volturno after heart ablation surgery, and stays in camp until Wednesday 30 September, the day of departure for Armenia.

The race for qualification

Italy trail Poland by three points and have no more room for error: the group winner goes straight to the Euros, and the best of the nine runners-up also qualifies. The Under-21s' season will be decided against a still-pointless Armenia and then in the head-to-head at Pescara.

Favasuli will leave Castel Volturno straight after Fiorentina-Napoli on Sunday 20 September, in the middle of an international break Napoli are facing with Anguissa still out through an adductor strain and the team chasing consistency after finishing 10th in the table. Between a possible appearance at the Franchi and his first Under-21 call-up, it is a week that carries more weight than most for the full-back.