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Francesco Coppola and Brando Bettazzi, two young footballers born in Italy to Cuban mothers, have begun to carve out a place for themselves at Pisa Sporting Club during the 2025-2026 season of the Italian Serie A, becoming one of the most unique stories in European football with roots in the island.
The latest chapter of this story was written by Bettazzi on May 24, when he officially debuted in Serie A at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, coming on in the 77th minute of the match Lazio 2-1 Pisa, replacing Arturo Calabresi, as the team switched to a more offensive 4-2-3-1 formation.
The left attacking midfielder, born in 2007 and just 18 years old, moved through the offensive midfield with confidence, finding his position and touching the ball for the first time in the top division without being intimidated by the stage or the reputation of his opponents.
Bettazzi developed in the youth teams of Empoli before moving to Pisa, where he established himself as one of the most promising talents of Primavera 2. He had already made his first contact with professional football on September 25, 2025, in the Coppa Italia, when he played a few minutes in the match against Torino.
Coppola, for his part, is a central defender who is 20 years old and 1.95 meters tall, having developed in the youth programs of Torino, Juventus, and Inter before joining Pisa. In Serie A, he was a starter on January 6 against Como, came on in stoppage time on January 10 against Udinese, and delivered an impressive performance on January 17 against Atalanta.
What makes this story unique is the dual international eligibility of both players: thanks to their Cuban mothers' nationality, they could represent the Cuban national team under FIFA rules, even though both dream of being called up by Italy.
This dilemma arises during a historically significant moment for Cuban football as it opens up to the diaspora. In March 2025, Cuba called up for the first time in almost 60 years players born outside the country, including Alessio Raballo, a forward born in Italy and trained at Parma.
The Cuban U-20 team also made history at the U-20 World Cup in Chile 2025, drawing 2-2 with Italy on October 2, marking Cuba's first point in that competition, although they were subsequently eliminated by Australia.
The sports context for Pisa was not the most favorable for these flashes of talent. The club had returned to Serie A after a 34-year absence, but the season turned out to be a failure: only two wins, 13 draws, and 20 losses, with relegation confirmed on May 1, 2026, after a 3-1 defeat against Lecce.
It was precisely that sports emergency and the long streak of injuries that opened the door for these two young Italian-Cuban players, who, according to journalist Michael Bufalino, "could become a valuable asset, regardless of the color of the shirt they wear internationally in the future."
Bettazzi's debut at the Olimpico, as noted by the Italian press, "only partially alleviates the bitterness of the relegation, but undoubtedly represents the first step towards the future of Pisa."
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