Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 11:58 / Updated Tuesday, March 31, 2026 12:04
Fernando Pellegrini (18 years old) is the man of the moment in the Romanian U18 national team, with a hat-trick in the most recent match of the young “tricolors”, 11-0 with Liechtenstein. What is his story?
On March 28, Fernando Pellegrini made his debut for the Romanian U18 national team. In just 42 minutes, the massive center forward, who measures 1.94 meters at the age of 18, scored 3 times.
With the number 20 on his back, Pellegrini struck for the first time in the 15th minute, with a header from the line of the 6-meter box, following a precise cross by Costyn Gheorghe.
He also scored with his head for the second time, for 7-0, in the 36th minute. This time he scored from 15 meters, resuming from the first long pass by Badărău. He thus took advantage of the untimely exit of the guests' goalkeeper.
The third time he hit in the 42nd minute, with his right foot, after Batzula served him perfectly. He left in the 62nd minute, replaced by Alexandru Bota.
But who is the top man who made this extraordinary first impression at the U18s?
Who is Fernando Pellegrini, the 1.94 striker at 18 years old: debut with a hat-trick for Romania U18
Fernando was born in Massa, Italy, Tuscany region. His father, Amedeo, is Italian and his mother, Elena, is Romanian, thus making him eligible to represent both countries. He has his mother's name tattooed on his right arm.
A massive striker, with an imposing posture, Fernando started football at the age of only 5, at Tirrenia Ronchi, to reach the Fiorentina Academy two years later.
According to Radio Bruno, a station that also broadcasts in Tuscany, Fernando “commuted daily, by train”to Florence. A train journey between Massa and Florence takes between 90 and 120 minutes.
In 2022, Fernando moved to Sampdoria, and a year later he went to Empoli, where he spent two seasons.
In 2025 he returned to Genoa, but to Sampdoria's rival, Genoaa club whose majority shareholder is the Romanian Dan Șucu.
He signed his first professional contract
In March 2026, just after he turned 18, the promising center forward signed his first professional contract, spanning 3 years. He scored 7 goals in 18 appearances for the Grifon U18 team this season.
The Italian publication La Nazione gave it a flattering description:
“From a technical point of view, Fernando is a «bomber vero» (no – true striker), a prolific scorer who immediately started scoring goals on the conveyor belt since his junior years, without stopping. And we know that box strikers are a rare, precious commodity who bring value (and results) to the whole team.
A linear growth, followed in the last 4 years by a complete, exceptional development, reaching a height of 1.94 m. Longilin, Pellegrini is a peak that he scores from all positions, but he doesn't refuse rebounds to lend a helping hand in the defensive phaseespecially at fixed phases, given its size.
In addition, he has a golden character, managing to make himself loved by everyone, both on the field and within the club or in the training camp where he lives with the other boys”.
Pellegrini recently said: “I think I will choose Romania's shirt”
At the time when he signed the professional contract with Genoa, Fernando anticipated that he would choose the Romanian national team, showing himself flattered by the interest shown by the officials of the Romanian Football Federation:
“At the moment I think I will choose the Romania shirt, considering that they have already shown interest several times and continue to follow me“.
A few days later came the news of the U18 call-up.
