Niccolo Pisilli: Tonali & Barella Were My Italy Role Models

Rising Italian talent Niccolo Pisilli has revealed that Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Barella were key figures he admired and studied during his formative years. He expressed his excitement at the "great opportunity" to learn from the Newcastle and Inter midfielders while with the national squad during the current international break.

Pisilli on Italy Hopes and Roma Opportunities: 'We're a Very Strong Group'

Pisilli first earned an Italy cap under Luciano Spalletti in October 2014. However, it has been a lengthy 18-month wait since then, and he is still anticipating his next chance to represent the Azzurri.

Following a string of recent appearances for Roma in the 2025-26 season, the 21-year-old midfielder has rejoined the Italy squad for the vital World Cup play-off campaign this international break. Their journey begins with a semi-final clash against Northern Ireland in Bergamo on Thursday evening.

Italy's last World Cup appearance was 12 years ago. The Azzurri have disappointingly missed out on the previous two World Cup tournaments and haven't secured a knockout stage victory on the global stage since their triumph over France in the 2006 final.

Pisilli was merely 10 years old when Italy last competed in a World Cup.

"I recall watching the World Cups in 2010 and 2014. Returning to the national team now fills me with immense pride," the young Roma midfielder shared in a recent interview with Rai Sport.

Pisilli firmly believes Italy possesses the capability to win their upcoming two matches and secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. He stated, "We are a formidable group. Everyone here is exceptionally strong; otherwise, they wouldn't have been called up."

He added, "A balance is crucial. We need the composure of a squad confident that 100% commitment will lead to our goal, yet also the understanding that something truly significant is on the line."

Despite his talent, Pisilli acknowledged he still has much to absorb from Italy's more seasoned and established players.

"I often think of Barella, and Tonali when he burst onto the scene with Milan; I always watched them on television. It's a fantastic chance for me to now learn directly from them," he elaborated.

When asked about the factors contributing to his increased playing opportunities at Roma, Pisilli responded.

"Nothing specifically," he asserted. "I believe it takes some time to grasp the new concepts a coach introduces after a change. The key is to be prepared when your chance comes during the season. I'm pleased to be receiving more minutes on the pitch, and I hope this trend continues."