[attach id=242527 size="medium"]Alessio Cerci... on the mark for Torino in Serie A.[/attach]

Torino midfielder Alessio Cerci is relishing the chance to play for the Italian national team for the first time after his first call-up was confirmed on Sunday evening when coach Cesare Prandelli avoided any surprises in his squad for the matches against Brazil and Malta.

The 25-year-old, co-owned with Fiorentina, was the only newcomer in the Azzurri squad. Besides the Florence club, he also played for Roma, Pisa, Brescia and Atalanta before and represented Italy at several age levels.

“I’m enjoying this moment and I’m happy,” Cerci told reporters at Coverciano yesterday.

“I had a number of objectives after joining Torino last summer and I’ve achieved the first one. It is an honour and a dream to be here. This is a point of departure for me and I need to keep moving forward.”

Cerci was tipped for international recognition after initially impressing for Fiorentina in previous seasons, but his career ultimately stalled in Florence.

“This selection is not revenge for anything,” he said.

“It is an important moment and I dedicate this call-up to my girlfriend and my friends. I also thank Cesare Prandelli for picking me.

“The past is the past. All I am thinking about right now is playing well.”

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, missing from the previous squad after falling foul of Prandelli’s strict ethics code by angrily confronting match officials in a club game, was recalled.

Antonio Cassano, who has not played since partnering Mario Balotelli in attack at Euro 2012, was again omitted in a decision that no longer raises eyebrows.

Prandelli said in an interview in January that he has not written off Cassano completely but wanted to give a chance to young forwards such as Milan’s Stephan El Shaaraway.

Italy face Brazil in a friendly in Geneva on Thursday and visit Malta on March 26 in a World Cup qualifier.