The Gli Azzurrini started their campaign with a 3-2 victory over five-time champions Brazil on Sunday to move top of their group, ahead of the Flying Eagles, who also defeated debutants Dominican Republic 2-1 hours earlier.
Casadei started the World Cup with a bang, scoring a brace and providing an assist and currently leads the race for the Golden Boot ahead of The Gambia’s Adama Bojang and Brazil’s Marcos Leonardo.
Nigeria and Italy first met at the U-20 World Cup at the 1987 edition of the competition in Chile, where two goals in two minutes from Marco Carrara and Alessandro Melli dashed the hopes of the Flying Eagles from advancing to the knockout stages.
Both countries are set to clash again at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza on Wednesday (today) with the winners guaranteed qualification to the Round of 16.
Speaking ahead of the game, the central midfielder said they would be mentally prepared as they face a “strong” Nigerian side.
“They are a very strong team, we must enter the field with the same spirit as the challenge against Brazil,” the Chelsea midfielder told Eurosport.
Casadei was brought to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan for £12.6m in the summer as the English giants embarked on a buying strategy billed as “Vision 2030.”
His performance in Argentina will surely send incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino a timely reminder of his talents.
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