While the names of Kevin Zeroli, Francesco Camarda and Alex Jimenez were perhaps better known going into preseason, it is Mattia Liberali and Lorenzo Torriani who left the biggest impressions.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that the summer of 2024 has turned the spotlight on Torriani and Liberali. One is a goalkeeper, the other an attacking midfielder and, at 19 and 17 years old respectively, they represent the fruits of the work carried out by the younger age groups in the academy.
An incredible rise
The story of Torriani – who last season was third choice for Milan Primavera under Ignazio Abate – is almost sensational. He went on the USA tour found himself in the starting line-up against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona due to Marco Sportiello’s injury.
Despite going from the bench with the Primavera to a showcase against the elite of European football, the teenager has taken to the role with disarming composure, with a serene state of mind, and tranquility is the best way to allow the best performance.
He made decisive saves throughout the three matches, including the one on penalties against Barça that allowed Milan to also win the third match of the tour. Last Tuesday, Fonseca also put him in the second half of the Berlusconi Trophy against Monza, and he made a great stop on Birindelli.
That game was also a showcase for Liberali, who is making fans dream as a classic interpreter of the trequartista role. In the Primavera he was used wider, now in the 4-2-3-1 of Daniele Bonera’s Milan Futuro he plays in the centre of the trident behind the striker.
Mattia’s talent is certainly not breaking news, because over the summer he already showed off his skills with the Italy U17 national team, with whom he won the European Championship as one of the leading men.
What now?
So what does the immediate future hold for Torriani and Liberali? Torriani will be a full member of the team, officially included in the squad. He could even be Maignan’s deputy until Sportiello returns – evaluations are underway in this regard.
Liberali is theoretically assigned to Milan Futuro, with whom he had the pleasure of scoring his first official goal against Lecco, in the Coppa Italia C, but after the match against Monza Fonseca spoke about him in a way that suggests otherwise.
“Young players like Liberali, Zeroli and so on are part of the first team. We work together with Milan Futuro, the problem is that we have a lot of players now,” he said.
“We don’t have much space for players like him. But when we have space it’s important to let them play with us, it helps them grow. I think they have quality, we have to pay attention to them.”
In short, it’s easy to predict more than one call-up to the first team for Liberali, perhaps starting on Saturday against Torino. With the arrival of Emerson, Milan might often field an XI composed only of foreign players, but the future is very much Azzurro.
“…but the future is very much Azzurro.” Exactly. Exciting times ahead, and maybe sooner than we think by the looks of things. I wonder if Conte would be talking about these guys like Fonseca is, had he arrived…
No way Conte will talk about them like this… just like he wanted Lukaku over Osimhen😂
I never supported the idea of Conte anyway, but also not too convinced with Fonseca – I was willing to give him benefit of doubt, and the early signs are promising, exceed my expectation for sure. Hopefully it will continue.
I agree with you completely, well said…
How in the world was Torriani the third choice in Primavera? Bonera needs to explain this.
If we have two better GKs than him then I think we have hoarded like 50% of the goalkeeping talent out of the pool.
I’m afraid it could end up with loan out for our youngsters like the talented Daniel and Colombo. Especially with Daniel, he give an assist for Milan friendly opener against rapid wien, scoring goal with Monza at coppa Italia and score again against Milan in trophy Berlusconi. Whatever, he has Maldini DNA. Cesare and Paolo.
I said this in a different post, but credit must be given to the management above all for how quickly they put the Futuro together and how stacked it is with young Italian talent…
This is a legit pipeline into the first team. One of the most important jobs Fonseca will have is to slowly integrate these kids into the first team.
Our Futuro IS bright! FORZA MILAN ⚫️🔴
In another article that was €32m fo Futuro this year. So that is about €100m invested this summer.
The payoff, as you say, is very exciting to consider.
I appreciate the take and hope we see these Italian kids become part of the story that is restoring glory to this Italian club
Forza Milan
I as a swede hope that the new Ibrahimovich can develop into something. I would love to see Ibrahimovich in the Milan squad and swedish national team. But my hopes are low :p