Ranieri's Personal Touch Won Me Over: Romano Opens Up on Choosing Italy Over Switzerland

The battle for Alessandro Romano's international allegiance has been settled, and according to the man himself, it came down to one decisive phone call from Claudio Ranieri. In comments reported by Football Italia, Romano spoke at length for the first time about his much-discussed decision to commit his future to the Italy national team rather than Switzerland, the country he was also eligible to represent. And while the choice between two proud footballing nations might have appeared difficult from the outside, the midfielder insisted that Ranieri's personal intervention made his path clear. 'Ranieri contacted me,' Romano explained, describing the moment the veteran coach reached out to discuss his role in the national team setup. For a young player weighing offers from two federations, that direct line to one of the most respected and experienced managers in the game proved impossible to ignore. The decision carries real significance with the 2026 World Cup looming large on the horizon. Italy, still haunted by the pain of missing the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, are determined to restore their place among football's elite on the biggest stage, and convincing emerging talent like Romano to wear the famous blue shirt is part of that broader project under Ranieri's leadership. Switzerland's loss is Italy's gain in this instance. The Swiss have established themselves as a formidable tournament side in recent years, famously pushing eventual champions to the limit at Euro 2024, and they would have welcomed a player of Romano's pedigree into their ranks. Instead, the Azzurri have secured the services of a prospect who now has the opportunity to develop within a national team building toward a defining summer. For Romano, the choice was about more than sentiment. Representing Italy means joining a lineage of midfield greats and competing for a place in a squad hungry to make amends for past disappointments. The faith shown by Ranieri, who took the time to contact him personally rather than leaving negotiations to intermediaries, clearly left a lasting impression on the young player. As Italy's preparations continue, supporters will be eager to see whether Romano can force his way into the manager's plans. One thing is certain: the player himself has no doubts about the colours he will be fighting for. This article is based on reporting by Football Italia.