LECCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Eddie Kouadio of AC Monza during the Serie A match between US Lecce and AC Monza at Stadio Via del Mare on September 13, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photographer Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Ivan Juric was not happy with Roberto Mancini’s decision to call up Eddie Couadio to the Italy squad, but left him out of four Nations League games during the international break, calling it a “waste of time” and saying the youngster would be better off staying with Monza.
Juric disappointed with Italy deal with Kouadio: ‘I’d like him to stay with us’
Kouadio was one of the surprise additions at the time Mancini was selected by a team of 34 players Before the extra long international break, Italy face Belgium, Turkey, France and Turkey again in their new Nations League campaign.
The 20-year-old has made just eight Serie A appearances throughout his career and didn’t even play for Italy U21s before earning his first senior call-up.
Given that Mancini holds dual citizenship and remains eligible for the Ivory Coast, there were suggestions he wanted to hand Kouadio his first cap in a competitive match to tie him up to play in top-flight Italy.
It was the same for Mohamed Ali Zoma, whose parents are Ivorian and Burkinabe, and he got his first cap off the bench against Belgium in September.
However, unlike Zoma, Kouadio was not given the opportunity to play under Mancini during the September-October international break. During the break, he was not included in the matchday squad for any of Italy’s four Nations League matches, much to the dismay of Monza boss Juric.
“For me it was a waste of time,” Juric said before the match press conference on the Friday before Monza’s visit to Lazio.
“Well, he got the call-up, he was with them, but for two-and-a-half weeks we could have used him better. It was obviously great for him to be close to the national team, but if he’s not going to play, I’d like him to stay with us.”