The 19-year-old midfielder, who is yet to make his Serie A debut, is one of the standout names in a 26-man squad as the Brazilian manager continues to blood the next generation.

Born in Italy to a Peruvian mother, Andrealli began his football development at Como at just eight years of age. Since then, he has steadily climbed through the club's youth ranks to become captain of the Primavera side. His impressive progress earned him his first professional contract in March 2025 and caught the eye of Cesc Fabregas, who has already included him in several first-team matchday squads.

His connection with the Peru national team is not entirely new either. Andrealli has already represented the country at youth level, featuring in under-20 friendlies against Chile. Furthermore, in November 2025 he accompanied the senior squad during their tour of Russia as a training partner, though he was not part of the official matchday roster.

According to reports from Infobae, the youth department of the Peruvian Football Federation had been tracking his development in Italian football for some time. This ongoing scouting work forged closer ties with the player and smoothed his integration into Peru's youth ranks before taking the ultimate step into the senior side.

Mano Menezes explained that Andrealli's inclusion had been planned across previous training camps, praising the qualities he brings to the centre of the pitch. The head coach described him as "a box-to-box player", an attribute he considers vital in the modern game, while highlighting the close collaboration between the senior team and the Under-20 setup.

The friendly against Bolivia could provide the stage for his senior international debut. The clash will take place at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in Lima, widely known as 'Matute', as Peru continue shaping up for the 2030 World Cup qualifying cycle.

Key returns and notable omissions

Beyond Andrealli, the squad list features several notable developments. Mano Menezes has recalled Andy Polo, Fabio Gruber, Luis Iberico and Maxloren Castro, while Juan Pablo II midfielder Erinson Ramirez also makes the cut.

On the omissions front, prominent figures such as Andre Carrillo, Alex Valera, Oliver Sonne, Miguel Araujo and Renzo Garces have all been left out of this camp.

The manager also addressed the situation surrounding Renato Tapia, currently plying his trade for UAE outfit Al Wasl. Menezes confirmed he had spoken directly with the midfielder and plans to reconsider him from March 2027 onwards, though any future inclusion will ultimately depend on his form and performances.

Peru's 26-man squad to face Bolivia

Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Deportivo Cali), Diego Romero (Universitario) and Matias Cordova (Comerciantes Unidos).

Defenders: Alfonso Barco (Rijeka), Erick Noriega (Gremio), Fabio Gruber (Mainz 05), Marco Huaman (Alianza Lima), Marcos Lopez (Copenhagen), Matias Lazo (Melgar) and Matias Zegarra (Melgar).

Midfielders: Andy Polo (Universitario), Erinson Ramirez (Juan Pablo II), Francesco Andrealli (Como 1907), Jairo Velez (Alianza Lima), Jesus Pretell (LDU Quito), Oslimg Mora (Sport Boys), Rodrigo Vilca (Comerciantes Unidos), Wilder Cartagena (Orlando City) and Yoshimar Yotun (Sporting Cristal).

Forwards: Adrian Ugarriza (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Bassco Soyer (Gil Vicente), Gianluca Lapadula (Universitario), Jhonny Vidales (Melgar), Luis Iberico (Sporting Cristal), Maxloren Castro (Sporting Cristal) and Piero Magallanes (Sport Huancayo).