Roberto Mancini is expected to be at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night, with reports suggesting that the Italy head coach will assess three potential Azzurri players as Real Madrid host Inter in the opening round of the 2026-27 Champions League campaign.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Mancini is due to watch Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolo Barella and Pio Esposito as the Nerazzurri travel to Spain.
The reported scouting itinerary continues on Wednesday, when Mancini is also expected to attend Sporting CP’s Champions League meeting with Galatasaray.
The Italy coach could use that fixture to watch 22-year-old midfielder Issa Doumbia, who joined Sporting from Venezia earlier this summer.
The two matches would give Mancini the chance to monitor four potential Italy internationals across consecutive evenings.
Context And Stakes For Mancini’s Scouting Trip
The 2026-27 Champions League begins on Tuesday evening with Real Madrid against Inter among the standout fixtures.
For Mancini, the reported visit comes shortly before the September-October international break, which begins on Monday, September 21, and offers an opportunity to observe players in a major European setting.
Bastoni, Barella and Esposito are all expected to be included in Italy’s squad for that upcoming international window.
Their involvement in Madrid could therefore carry added interest as Mancini continues to assess his options ahead of selection decisions.
Wednesday’s Sporting CP-Galatasaray match in Lisbon provides a separate opportunity to follow Doumbia.
While the reports do not establish whether he will play, his presence at Sporting gives Mancini a potential chance to monitor a midfielder who has moved from Serie A to the Portuguese side.
Team News Ahead Of The Bernabeu Test
Bastoni and Barella are expected to start for Inter against Real Madrid, with Federico Dimarco also set to feature as a wing-back in Cristian Chivu’s expected 3-5-2 shape.
Esposito is likely to begin among the substitutes, with Marcus Thuram favoured to start alongside Lautaro Martinez after scoring off the bench against Napoli at the weekend.
Curtis Jones has also pushed his way into contention after impressing in cameo appearances, and is expected to start ahead of Petar Sucic. Djed Spence, one of Inter’s other summer arrivals, is yet to make his Inter debut.
Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho, will be without Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler through suspension.
The hosts are also nursing a shock 1-0 defeat to Real Betis in their last La Liga outing, adding extra needle to what was already a demanding fixture for both sides.
Tactical Battle: Physicality Versus Structure
Vinicius Jr has highlighted Inter’s physical strength and defensive structure in his pre-match assessment.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV, the Brazilian said Inter defend with five players and suggested that approach can create difficulties for Madrid.
His comments point to the importance of Inter’s organisation when the Italian side face Madrid’s attacking threat.
For Inter, the challenge will be to combine defensive discipline with the ability to compete across the pitch.
Bastoni’s role in the back line and Barella’s work in midfield will be among the areas of particular interest if Mancini is in attendance as reported.
The Four Names On Mancini’s List
Bastoni and Barella are the established names in the group and are expected to start in Madrid.
Esposito is the forward option expected to begin on the bench, with Lautaro Martinez and Thuram ahead of him in Inter’s attacking order.
Doumbia is the other player reportedly on Mancini’s scouting list. He joined Sporting CP from Venezia for €20m plus bonuses earlier this summer, and the Sporting-Galatasaray fixture could offer Mancini an opportunity to watch him as he begins his spell in Portugal.
Wider Implications For Italy
The three Inter players are expected to be part of the squad for the September-October international break.
That makes the Bernabeu match a timely occasion for Mancini to observe them before Italy reconvene.
Doumbia’s place in the reported itinerary indicates that he may also be under consideration.
The Wednesday match does not guarantee his involvement, but it gives Mancini a possible further point of observation across the two Champions League nights.
What To Watch In Madrid And Lisbon
The key points in Madrid are whether Bastoni and Barella can meet the demands of the occasion, and how Esposito responds if he’s introduced from the bench.
Inter’s defensive shape will also be tested against Vinicius and Real Madrid, following the forward’s comments about the Nerazzurri’s physicality and five-player defensive line.
In Lisbon, attention will turn to whether the Sporting CP-Galatasaray match gives Mancini a chance to see Doumbia.
Taken together, the two reported visits would allow Italy’s coach to assess established Inter players and a newer midfield option during the opening Champions League schedule.
