Lecce defender Andrea Esposito couldn’t escape relegation, but receiving his maiden Azzurri call is “a dream come true.”
He turned 23 years of age last Sunday and is one of eight debutants in Marcello Lippi’s squad for the June 6 friendly with Northern Ireland.
Esposito is only the second Lecce player ever to be called to the senior Italy side after Marco Cassetti in 2005.
“It is a dream come true,” he told the official Lecce website. “For every kid who starts to play football, wearing his country’s jersey is a dream.
“This is a moment I certainly did not expect to reach so quickly and it makes me very proud. Just the thought of working alongside champions under Coach Lippi’s orders gives me incredible feelings.
“I want to share this joy with my whole family, who put up with many important sacrifices to help my growth in this career.”
Esposito is a Lecce youth product who began his career in their youth squad in 2003, winning two Primavera youth titles, a Primavera Coppa Italia and Primavera Super Cup.
He spent the 2006-07 season on loan to Serie C1 side Sambenedettese before returning to base to help the Salentini to promotion last term.
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