'Doing great things' - Okoli lauds ex-Italy U21 teammate Udogie ahead of possible cap-tying game

Speculation surrounding the international future of Leicester City central defender Caleb Okoli could end once and for all on Friday evening if he takes to the field in a UEFA Nations League meeting between France and Italy at the Parc des Princes, Paris.

Born in Vicenza, Italy, Okoli is eligible to represent the Super Eagles through his Nigerian parents but has opted to play international football for the four-time world champions.

After attending two senior national team training camps in 2022, the Atalanta-reared defender received his first call-up for the internationals in September.

Okoli was teammates with Tottenham Hotspur left-back of Nigerian descent Destiny Udogie, Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli, Torino star Samuele Ricci and Atalanta defender Raoul Bellanova in Italy's U21 setup before the quartet were promoted to the senior side.

The Foxes summer signing is ready to convince Luciano Spalletti to give him a regular spot in the Azzurri squad and highlighted that there's a pathway into the senior team.

Okoli spoke highly of his former U21 teammates, including Udogie, noting that they are all catching the eye in the major European leagues.

"In the U21 I had teammates like Fagioli, Ricci, Bellanova and Udogie himself. They were my teammates and they are here with me now. They are also doing great things in the top leagues," he said at Wednesday's press conference, according to Mondo Primavera.

"I think we are going in the right direction because more and more young Italians are coming out"

Okoli was on the radar of former Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro, who tasked Ballon d'Or nominee Ademola Lookman with persuading the defender to change his allegiance from Italy to Nigeria's Super Eagles.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: figc.it

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