The controversial rule preventing Italy from securing their new Paolo Maldini

Suraj Radia

• 21 Dec 2025 11:15 CST
• 5 min read

Analysis

Italy have always boasted one of the strongest teams across international football history but an intriguing rule could be preventing the Azzurri from achieving their full potential on the pitch.

Despite winning the Euro 2021 title and being ranked as the fourth-best team in the world, Italy have dropped to 12th in the FIFA World Rankings since then and the days of being one of the most feared nations in Europe is slowly becoming a distant memory.

While the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali and Alessandro Bastoni provide some world class quality to Gennaro Gattuso’s side, the Italians perhaps lack the stature of their 2006 World Cup winning squad featuring icons such as Gigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti.

Although he had retired from international duty by 2006, one of Italy’s most legendary stars remains Paolo Maldini and, even with the quality of Bastoni, no player can truly match the Milan legend’s pedigree in the left side of defence.

However, one wonderkid has been exciting onlookers and creating murmurs that Italian football could finally have potential successor to Maldini but for one fateful issue – he cannot play for Italy despite being born in the country.

A debate has reignited in Italy over a law which goes beyond football and questions the country’s stance on immigration, citizenship and nationality that may be hindering Gli Azzurri from returning to the previous glories on the pitch.

Honest Ahanor: the new Paolo Maldini that could provoke a change in Italian law

The name Honest Ahanor is one that has been increasing in popularity in recent months after the 17-year-old’s big money move to Atalanta in the summer, where he has gone onto become a regular feature at the heart of their defence.

The €20 million signing from Genoa raised eyebrows having become the second-most expensive purchase for an Italian of his age but he has since been scouted by the likes of Chelsea, who could make a €60m approach for him next summer.

Yet, even with being the youngest ever player from Italy to start a Champions League match, Ahanor has never been capped at any level for the national team, not due to a lack of merit but simply because he is not recognised as an actual Italian.

Ahanor was born in Campania in southern Italy to Nigerian parents and the defender has spent his entire life in the Italian football system and schooling system, while culturally being no different to any other teenager in the country.

But Italian law has historically dictated that simply being born in the country does not automatically give an individual the right to citizenship and that there must be some form of descent or lineage in the process.

The children of immigrants can apply for citizenship at the age of 18 if they have lived in the country continuously and legally, so Ahanor should have no issues with his nationalisation come February when he turns 18.

It is a similar situation that former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli found himself in, having been born to Ghanian parents in Sicily and being unable to play for Italy until he turned 18.

While there have been calls to amend the law, a referendum on faster citizenship for foreign nationals failed in 2025 due to a low turnout, with citizens being told by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to boycott the ballot.

Although the debate over the merits of the law can be discussed, from a footballing standpoint it could see Italy risk more young talent choosing to play for the country of their parent’s heritage rather than wait until they are 18 to apply for Italian citizenship.

Ahanor has been approached by Nigeria to feature for their national team but the youngster is understood to have opted to wait until he turns 18 and then accept a call up from Italy when he receives his passport.

Italy will be grateful that Ahanor has shown patience but, while the next Paolo Maldini’s future is set to be secured, plenty more could slip through the cracks as the discussion over a tense topic rages on.

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