Italy’s U19 side won their second group stage game against Northern Ireland last night to book a place in the semi-finals, and there was a red and black tinge to the victory.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Francesco Camarda scored two goals playing three years up, not exactly usual for a 16-year-old. Kevin Zeroli scored again, and Vittorio Magni came on in the second half to assist Camarda’s second.
Davide Bartesaghi played at left-back and he impressed with his mix of technique and physicality. At the end there was also room for Diego Sia to come off the bench too, and while the opponent were not exactly elite level there is plenty to be excited about.
There is a generation of Milan talents that, rather than knocking on the doors of high-level football, seem to want to break them down, and they are continuing to demonstrate it on the biggest stage, at least at their age group.
Camarda is the ‘poster boy’ and naturally so given that he was born in 2008 but plays regularly against players born in 2005. He is looking more and more like an all-round striker who can score in any way, against any goalkeeper.
Zeroli is his captain at Milan and in the national team. Like Camarda he grew up a Milan fan, in the suburbs of Busto Arsizio. Last season he scored against Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Youth League, after going on tour with Pioli to the United States.
Magni and Bartesaghi are the two full-backs, with the former playing on the right and the latter on the left. Magni has never played for the first team, Bartesaghi has eight appearances with them. Magni is more powerful, Bartesaghi is more technical.
Sia meanwhile came off the bench and he is pushing for a starting spot. The winger has become a star of the Primavera, racking up 15 goals and eight assists in 47 games across all competitions last season.
With the launch of the Milan Futuro project the hope is that Milan now have the next step available to polish the gems they have on their hands, while the players hope to be polishing a trophy in a couple of weeks.
I hope someday they will wear milan first team. Not end up like loan out or loan with option buy like colombo, daniel maldini, pobega and brescianini…
These are the kids to build around and bridge to the first team.