Moise Kean and Nicolo Zaniolo played as Paolo Nicolato began his Italy Under-21 reign with a 4-0 victory over Moldova.
Kean and Zaniolo were not called up to the senior squad after their show of lateness at the European Under-21 Championship over the summer.
Instead, the Everton striker and Roma midfielder formed part of Nicolato’s first Azzurrini XI since the Coach replaced Luigi Di Biagio as CT.
However, the pair were brought off at half-time, so the goals had to come from other sources.
Moise Kean and Nicolo Zaniolo played as Paolo Nicolato began his Italy Under-21 reign with a 4-0 victory over Moldova.
Kean and Zaniolo were not called up to the senior squad after their show of lateness at the European Under-21 Championship over the summer.
Instead, the Everton striker and Roma midfielder formed part of Nicolato’s first Azzurrini XI since the Coach replaced Luigi Di Biagio as CT.
However, the pair were brought off at half-time, so the goals had to come from other sources.
Sassuolo loanee Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring on 33 minutes with a free kick, adding to his five goals for Serie B side Ascoli.
Davide Frattesi was one of Italy’s standout players at the recent U-20 World Cup and replaced Zaniolo for the second half.
The Empoli midfielder caught the eye on his U21 debut, helping himself to a brace, before Pescara striker Marco Tumminello rounded off the win.
Next up for the Azzurrini is a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg.
Italy 4-0 Moldova
Scamacca 33, Frattesi 52, 62, Tumminello 69
Italy: Carnesecchi; Del Prato, Marchizza, Bastoni, Ranieri (Sala 46); Carraro, Zanellato (Maggiore 46); Kean (Sottil 46), Zaniolo (Frattesi 46), Scamacca; Pinamonti (Tumminello 46)
Moldova: Agachi; Djinari, Furtuna, Ursu, Boico; Dros, Stina, Craciun; Nicolaescu, Nihaev, Belousov