After a fantastic season with AC Milan’s Primavera side, Mattia Liberali is putting his stamp on Italy U17’s run in the European Championship.
As Calciomercato.com recall, the victory on penalties against England took the Italian under 17 team to the quarter-finals of the European Championship where Denmark will be waiting for them, and they have Liberali to thank.
He equalised with an extraordinary goal. He started from the right, moved centrally in a serpentine way, dribbling around multiple defenders and then finding the bottom corner with a brilliant shot when he seemed off balance.
Those who know Mattia speak of a young man that continues to show character, skill and application. In training he is the first to arrive and the last to leave, he never says word out of place and has few worries in his head.
He is an old-fashioned right winger who loves one-on-one play and combinations with his team-mates. Milan are holding onto him knowing that they have a diamond in their hands and it is no coincidence that he has already signed his first professional contract.
Liberali scored 15 goals in 39 appearances this season across all competitions, and Ignazio Abate played a role in his development as he gave him confidence but above all that hunger necessary to continue on a path that must lead to becoming a full senior professional.
Alessandro Costacurta said something quite striking about Liberali in an interview when asked about the Milan youth sector: “Which boy impressed me? Mattia Liberali, 2007-born from Milan. He’s young, he reminds me of Foden.”
At this age comparisons can create exaggerated expectations, but with Liberali they are almost automatic because watching him play is truly a pleasure. With him and Francesco Camarda, Milan fans are dreaming.
They believe so much in him that they won’t give him even a sec of senior game time 🤦🏾♂️ if he was at Barca or Dortmund, he would already have senior matches under his belt.
Will be sold in 3 years for 5M€. That’s the Milan way.
in Italy you must wait your turn, and it is usually a very long wait. If he is lucky Liberali will have his debut in ‘ Serie A’ at the age of 25. Young players in Italy are not taken seriously, especially if they are Italians.