Francesco Camarda became a record-breaker last season when he took the title of being the youngest ever Serie A debutant, and the plan is to give him a further taste of first team football in the years to come.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Milan took an important step by renewing Camarda until 2027 despite the interest of some top clubs abroad but now they must do another very significant thing: give him the right opportunities.
In a summer in which Italian football is still hurt by the desolate European Championship campaign for Luciano Spalletti’s side in Germany, the Italy U19 side are doing very well in their Euros and Camarda became the youngest scorer in the competition’s history the other day.
Facing comparisons with Lamine Yamal – who has just turned 17 and was a star at the senior Euros with Spain – Milan know that they cannot hold Camarda back. The idea for the 16-year-old for now seems to be splitting his time between the first team and the Futuro.
The Under 23 side can be a good development opportunity to mature and play against adults, giving him a taste of high-level competition, and naturally it could also be a way to shorten the time of the transition from the youth sector to the first team.
In the meantime, Milan strategically moved at the right time and invested in Camarda, managing to get him to reject the advances of Manchester United, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund. At a certain point, Francesco really seemed to be moving away from the Rossoneri.
The management deserve credit for having managed to retain him, also thanks to a rich contract until 2027 that seems to be around €450k net per season plus bonuses linked to appearances and goals both in the league and in the Champions League.
In short, if at this moment Milan Futuro is the natural home of Camarda, the type of agreement makes it clear how much Milan are banking on the striker. A season under Daniele Bonera will certainly be formative also from a character point of view, but it is right to look at the future too.
Giving him the opportunity to compete in Serie A at the right time, or even in Champions League, will be something that the striker expects, because only by gaining experience at certain levels will it be possible for Camarda to confirm his great potential.
Here Fonseca will have an important role. The record of the Portuguese coach says that he has a good sense when it comes to young players, is not afraid to launch them and often gives them big opportunities, exactly what Camarda needs.
Yamal, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta all came through Barca B.
Vini Jr. Rodrygo, Hakimi, Casemiro, all spent time in Madrid B.
If Milan can manage Camarda’s time between Futuro and the First Team, I can see him doing very well in the coming 1 to 2 years.
Apart from Hakimi (kinda), none of those were a product of Real Madrid’s youth system, so this comparison really makes zero sense.
Even Messi (Newels) and Iniesta (Albacete) are not really a product of Barcelona’s La masia.
Oh, common! Messi left Newell’s Old Boys when he was 8 years old!
By your logic, when is a player considered product of the youth system..??