Not much had been heard about Mattia Liberali following his rather surprising summer exit, but the weekend may have provided a turning point.
As Calciomercato.com report, Catanzaro’s pursuit of the dream called Serie A can definitively add a new weapon to its arsenal. Liberali has been providing positive signs over the last few games, helping to propel the Calabrian team to fifth place, meaning the play-offs are within reach.
One only needs to look at the last three Serie B games and notice how the former Milan talent has made his mark in each of them, scoring a goal and registering two assists. His presence and contribution proved decisive against Reggiana and Pescara (both matches won 2-0).
A turning point
Starting from last summer, the decision was made by Liberali and his camp to leave Milan, where he had a contract until 2026. Initially, the Rossoneri’s plan was to send the 18-year-old to play in Serie A, on loan, more precisely to Torino.
Everything seemed done, until the intervention of his agent who – after a discussion with the directors – managed to prevail and set up a new negotiation with Catanzaro. The outcome: a free, permanent transfer, with 50% of the future resale fee going to Milan.
Liberali was coming off a season in the Primavera, with a few appearances for Milan Futuro and a Serie A debut against Genoa. Yet, in the very first months of the new season in Catanzaro he seemed to have almost disappeared from the radar.
In the first 16 games in Serie B (three of which were missed due to his call-up to the U20 World Cup with the Italian national team), Liberali played only three times for a total of 41 minutes distributed across appearances against Reggiana, Venezia and Empoli.
In reality, this process was part of a plan, as Catanzaro worked with and alongside Liberali on a very specific project. The club wanted him to improve his physical fitness and prepare for his first real professional season in his young career. This program allowed him to gain a whopping 6kg in muscle.
In December, the turning point seemed to arrive, with the talent starting to find more playing time. He racked up 65 minutes across games versus Bari, Cesena, Frosinone, Venezia and Sampdoria, before the real and concrete change: a starting sport against Sudtirol.
Liberali responded promptly to his coach’s prompting, providing his first assist. In the next two games (victories against Reggiana and Pescara), he first scored his first Serie B goal with a powerful right-footed strike.
What about the future? For now, it remains an unknown. Catanzaro are enjoying him after being patient, but it is clear that – if he continues to shine – some teams might start knocking, asking for information. With that 50% resale clause, the Rossoneri have a card in their favour, too.
1 goal and 1 assist and people already talking about him
People were always talking about him because he’s an obvious talent. Then he wasn’t starting in Serie B so they wrote him off immediately – because people don’t consider the individual or any context; they just see footballers on a pitch and categorise them.
Who knew, Catanzaro – a professional outfit no less, had a plan all along? The mind truly boggles /s
It’s good to have a plan eh, like many young players who arrive in serie a it’s usually the 2nd half of the season when they start to get a chance to show their talent
yes overhyping every youngster is literally your whole playbook
Is it? Who?
How can anyone with a modicum of intelligence take my above comment as hyperbole? The subtext of what I said is clear – it’s entirely reasonable that he wasn’t ready for a Serie B first team, and people need to slow down their thinking. That’s ‘literally’ the antithesis of hyperbole.
1 goal and 2 assists in 3 games since he got his first real run in the team.
Good for him
Delighted to see him blossoming, he is such a lovely player to watch.
Here’s hoping he continues to shine and perhaps one day we can use our 50% discount to bring him home
More proof that Serie B is where Camarda should have been sent on loan, not a Serie A relegation struggler that was never going to rely on a 17 year old striker to save them from relegation. I just don’t understand that decision.
Totally agree.
A young goal keeper does not need to be at a team with the best defense as they need practice saving.
Same applies to a young striker, they should not be at a team with limited attack they are better playing at a lower level for a good team where they get chances and therefore improve and gain confidence
Yeah I think the notion that an 18 year olds NEEDS minutes to develop is flawed, also I think sending a very raw prospect to a club like Lecce is a flawed approach. I don’t like the loan to develop model. It doesn’t work. Sell w/ a buy back or 50% resale is better because it forces the buying team to invest in the long term development of the player but that all depends on the quality of the buying club and their own ambitions. I’m not sure who to peg as the best provincial club at developing young talent but those are the clubs Milan and the agents who push hard for playing time should be looking for.