Italy face losing Elia Caprile to Albania after goalkeeper gains citizenship

Cagliari keeper Caprile holds dual passport after decree

Elia Caprile, the 25-year-old Cagliari goalkeeper, has been granted Albanian citizenship, according to Football Italia citing TuttoMercatoWeb. The move opens the door to a possible international switch away from Italy, for whom he has yet to win a senior cap.

Albanian President Bajram Begaj signed the decree on 19 October, and it has since been published in the country’s official gazette. “According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the 25-year-old now holds dual citizenship,” the report states. Caprile was born in Verona to Italian parents and has no Albanian heritage. He was granted citizenship through his marriage to Emily Toshkollari, whose family is Albanian.

International background and Italy call-up

Caprile has represented Italy at Under-18 and Under-21 level and was called up to the senior squad by Gennaro Gattuso in November 2025. He has never won a senior cap, however, so he is not yet tied to Italy.

FIFA eligibility hurdle

Holding a passport doesn’t automatically make Caprile eligible. FIFA requires a player taking up a new nationality to prove a genuine link to the country, through birth, parents or grandparents, or long-term residence. Marriage alone does not meet those criteria. Reports in Italy say the Albanian federation is already exploring the possibility of calling him up, but FIFA would need to approve any switch, and it has blocked similar cases in the past.

Curious Cagliari twist

If he were cleared, there would be an unusual twist. Albania’s current No 1, Alen Sherri, is Caprile’s backup at Cagliari. Albania are coached by Rolando Maran, who knows Serie A well from his spells at Chievo, Cagliari and Genoa.

Context: Caprile’s form at Cagliari

Caprile’s potential availability to Albania comes as he enjoys a fine run at club level. As reported by The Guardian on 13 October 2026, Cagliari sit fourth in Serie A with 13 points from six games in the 2026-27 season, and “goalkeeper Elia Caprile has been magnificent” under coach Fabio Pisacane. The side have taken six wins and a draw from their last eight matches dating to last season, with only Roma picking up more points in that stretch.