Another Derby d’Italia transfer battle may be forming on the horizon — this one not for a senior player or an immediate reinforcement, but for the kind of young Italian talent that both Juventus and Inter have recognised, in recent seasons, as the true competitive differentiator. Carnevali’s arrival has returned the bianconeri to the philosophy that Beppe Marotta himself carried from Turin to Milan: the clubs that go furthest and win trophies are those built around a solid Italian core. In the current economic environment — where foreign spending power consistently outstrips Serie A’s capacity — identifying and securing the best Italian talents before the major international clubs arrive is not merely a philosophy but a survival strategy.
Who Is Samuele Inacio — and Why Is He Already Important?
Samuele Inacio is eighteen years old, born in 2008, and plays for Borussia Dortmund. He is the son of Inacio Pià — the Brazilian-born forward who spent several seasons in Serie A with Atalanta and Napoli — which gives him both Italian citizenship and a dual football heritage that makes him one of the most watched teenagers in European football. He has already made several starts in the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal last season, leaving his mark with goals and assists from the very beginning. His most recent notable contribution: a brace in the cup against HEBC Hamburg.
Dortmund, alerted by the early Serie A interest, moved quickly in the summer to extend his contract to 2029. They have also given him extremely limited first-team minutes in the opening weeks of the current season — just 13 in the Bundesliga and Champions League combined — a decision driven more by squad management and patience than any technical reservation.
The Juventus Connection — and the Agent Who Keeps Appearing
The most intriguing element of Nicolò Schira’s report is the agent connection that runs through this story. Samuele Inacio has recently entrusted his professional interests to Edoardo Crnjar — a representative who has become, in Schira’s characterisation, something of a regular presence at the Continassa. It was Crnjar who conducted the long negotiation for Kolo Muani’s return to Juventus this summer. It was Crnjar who facilitated Michele Di Gregorio’s loan to Bournemouth. And it is Crnjar who now manages the interests of a Dortmund teenager that both Carnevali and Marotta are monitoring.
That is not merely a coincidence worth noting. It is a structural advantage in any future negotiation. Carnevali has a warm and productive working relationship with the agent who manages Inacio’s career. When the moment arrives — whether in January’s market or next summer — that pre-existing trust could prove the decisive differentiating factor between Juventus and Inter.
The Italy Question — and the Brazil Alternative That Would Close the Door
The nationality dimension adds a further layer of complexity and urgency. Roberto Mancini, whose new Italy cycle is looking to identify the next generation of Azzurri talent, has Inacio on his radar — with a potential call-up as early as September’s Nations League fixtures under serious consideration. Should that call arrive and Inacio accept, the question of international allegiance is settled definitively: Italy, not Brazil. Carlo Ancelotti, who has his own interest in the player for the Seleção, would be closed out permanently.
For Juventus, a player with Italian eligibility carries UEFA list advantages that go beyond the purely footballing — homegrown players in List A or List B categories ease the registration constraints imposed by the UEFA Settlement Agreement, making their acquisition administratively valuable as well as technically compelling.
The Timeline — for Now, Watch and Wait
Dortmund have blocked any departure attempt and the 13 competitive minutes of the current season suggests the German club are managing his development carefully. The January window and next summer’s market are the more realistic moments for any concrete approach. Elkann’s directive — build a Juventus that can become a winning club over the coming years, built around young talent of the highest quality — points precisely at players like Inacio. After six years without a Scudetto, the rebuilding of the squad’s future identity is as important as any immediate competitive result. In Samuele Inacio, Juventus and Inter are already seeing the outlines of one part of that identity. The race has begun.
