Bruges striker Nicolò Tresoldi delivered a three-goal performance against Inter Milan in the Champions League, a feat discussed by his father. For Tresoldi junior, class of 2004, it was the first time at San Siro, though his father noted it will not be the last, adding that playing at San Siro represented the realization of a dream. Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer offered an endorsement after the match, describing him as a brave player with tremendous quality and stating that a great career awaits him, whether with Italy or Germany.
Born in Cagliari on August 20, 2004, Tresoldi has emerged as a prolific attacker in the Belgian league, having secured a league title and a top-scorer honor with 20 goals last season. Despite his Italian roots, he currently represents the Germany Under-21 side. His father, Emanuele Tresoldi, a 52-year-old former Atalanta defender who played in Serie A in the pre-Gasperini era, noted that while his son has received interest from the Italian setup, he is committed to finishing his current cycle with the German youth team before making a definitive choice.
Emanuele Tresoldi on His Son’s Allegiances
The question of national representation remains unresolved. According to an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Emanuele Tresoldi stated that his son will make his decision based on personal sentiment rather than technical opportunity. “After the European Championship, we will see.” He also mentioned that senior coach Klopp has made contact. Emanuele noted that dispassionate choices are difficult because of bonds of gratitude that cannot be ignored, observing that his son grew up there, speaks four languages, and is a citizen of the world who will inevitably disappoint someone either way.
The father also addressed the player’s long-standing support for AC Milan. Having grown up idolizing players like Kaká, Filippo Inzaghi, and Alexandre Pato—with no one ever managing to change his mind—Nicolò maintains a deep connection to the club, with his Rossoneri devotion stemming from his grandfather, who was a Milan fan and also served as Marco van Basten’s golf teacher. When asked if his son would accept an offer from Inter Milan, Emanuele suggested that the player’s personal fan loyalties might complicate any potential move, stating, “I am not at all sure he would accept. The soul of the fan could prevail.”
A Journey Through Italian Rejection
Before his breakthrough in Belgium, Tresoldi’s path to professional football faced multiple setbacks within the Italian system. Growing up in the Umbrian countryside and playing for Fontanelle in Gubbio where he practiced near sunflowers even playing against older boys, he faced several rejections after trials across Italy with Juventus, Milan, Atalanta, Fiorentina, and Bologna. These clubs reportedly declined to sign him, citing their existing talent pools and claiming they already had young prospects with those exact characteristics, while his father supported him from behind the scenes. Before committing fully to football, he was also talented at tennis.
His development eventually took place in Germany, where his family relocated due to his mother’s career in civil aviation—specifically Barbara Caffi, an Argentine flight attendant for an airline whose job postings sent the family to Hannover rather than a previously expected move to Liverpool. After playing in the youth sector and professional ranks for Hannover 96, he eventually moved to Bruges, making the jump from the German 2B division to the top Belgian tier with his mother living alongside him to assist with domestic duties.
The Decision Still Pending
The striker, who is fluent in four languages, remains a dual-national torn between his birthplace and the country where he developed as a professional. With his current commitment to the German youth squad extending through the upcoming European Championship, a final decision on his senior international status is not expected until the conclusion of that tournament.
