His goal might not have counted in the end, but Francesco Camarda’s appearance against Club Brugge is attracting plenty of media attention.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall that it wasn’t actually Camarda’s first rodeo when it comes to competitive action with the senior team: that was celebrated on November 25th of last year, in Milan-Fiorentina in the league, when Stefano Pioli threw him in seven minutes from the end.
He came on in place of Luka Jovic with the roar of San Siro chanting his name and him greeting the fans, clenching his fist as one does after a goal. Camarda was 15 years old and 11 months later he was baptised again.
Every time he enters the field, he rewrites a record: a year ago he became the youngest debutant in the history of Serie A (15 years, 8 months, 15 days), and yesterday he became the youngest Italian (and Milan) debutant in the history of the Champions League.
Everyone went crazy for Francesco and especially when he scored, when no one realised that a few seconds later a radio communication from the VAR room would erase another record, namely that of becoming the youngest ever scorer in the history of the UCL.
The San Siro roared, the entire bench rushed towards him, some players hugged him, others patted him on the head, then they all lifted him up to the sky. It was a moment that remained particularly impressed on the 16-year-old, who after the match said to those around him: “Did you see that everyone lifted me up?”
When he scored against Simon Mignolet, the cameras focused on the tears of his mother Federica and the fact that his father Manuel was no longer there, because he had rushed towards the balustrade of the first tier to celebrate with him up close.
Then, at the end of the match, both of his parents were there by the side of the pitch. Camarda went towards them, hugged them and the disappointment of the disallowed goal was taken away by that hug.
Then they went back home, without any particular celebrations because this morning it was already time to return to Milanello to train (and a team photo with Milan Futuro was also scheduled). Maybe he had a couple of hours less sleep, because the adrenaline will have been rushing.
Francesco is ready to answer Paulo Fonseca’s call again on Saturday because Tammy Abraham is still unavailable and Luka Jovic is not in the best condition. Maybe another page of history is already ready to be written.
He was great, he looked assured, laid the ball off well, gutted his goal didn’t stand. Still there will be more to come. It was such a good header too.
The most positive thing was that he was calling for the ball and looing to run off the shoulder of the defenders. Sadly our slow play didnt see him and chances to play him in were missed….
The execution with the head was really precise. Protect this boy.
That was immense wasn’t it. He tilted his head so that ball loops the keeper just enough. Well done. Great awareness too. I liked it.
Also can’t imagine what his parents must be feeling too. Such a proud moment
So long as he scores between now and the end of the UCL “Group Stages”, he’ll become the youngest goal scorer in UCL history.
Ansu Fati’s record was 17 years and 40 days.
Camarda has until April 19th 2025 to beat this record.
Yeah he definitely must play against weaker team to write that.
5 matches and 4 with a much ” weaker ” teams so hopefully he can achieved that goal, heck i’d rather see him playing than Abraham now.
Yeah gaining experience at top level is important
Just love this kid.
Definitely is going places hopefully with Milan.