Giacomo Calò answered his Italy omission without turning it into a fight. Left out of Italy's squad for the Nations League matches against France and Belgium, the Frosinone midfielder said he is keeping his focus on club football and believes the performances will take care of the rest. He turns 30 in February.

The age debate around Mancini's call

Calò did not hide the fact that the age issue sits in the background. Roberto Mancini said it is not the moment to call up players aged 29-30, and Calò acknowledged that the younger players have been favoured so far. He also made clear he does not want to fuel the argument.

The midfielder's point is built on form as much as patience. He has 11 Serie A appearances this season and 4 goals, a return that gives his case some weight even before the debate over age comes into it. Calò's average rating is 7.32, which fits the idea that this has been a genuine step up rather than a brief spell of noise.

Frosinone's case for Calò

Calò has framed Frosinone as the environment that has let him grow. Speaking about the club, he said, "The secret? We are a family and we have a lot of hunger. We want to stay up and we will fight to do it. Alvini knew how to create a united group". He has also said Massimiliano Alvini gave him the keys to midfield and a lot of trust.

The numbers back up why his name is in the conversation at all. Frosinone are sixth in the standings on 20 points, and Calò has been part of that rise after spending most of his career in Serie B and Serie C before this season. He says he was about to go to Samp before Alvini persuaded him to stay, which only adds to the sense that the move has worked for both player and club.

Calò's own verdict is still the same one he gave to Sky Sport Italia: "For now Frosinone is my national team, the rest comes later". Italy's squad for France and Belgium is already set, and the debate around his next chance will now wait for the next window.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →