AC Milan’s 2024 could hardly have started any better: two wins obtained across the Coppa Italia and Serie A, seven goals scored and one goal conceded.
MilanNews recall how the victories against Cagliari and Empoli were not just thanks to the big names like Rafael Leao, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Olivier Giroud – each of whom scored – but also the contribution of some Primavera players.
The injury emergency certainly facilitated the inclusion of some of these players, but if they appeared ready then it is because the Primavera have been doing excellent work for some time now.
With Geoffrey Moncada, Paolo Maldini, Ricky Massara and Angelo Carbone all doing their part, plus Elliott Management and RedBird Capital as owners, and now it is Vincenzo Vergine who has been head of the youth sector since the summer.
From Francesco Camarda’s record-breaking debut to Jan-Carlo Simic’s character, the goals of Chaka Traoré and the bursts of Alex Jimenez – plus Davide Bartesaghi and Kevin Zeroli coming on too – mean there is plenty to be excited about.
Obviously this is only first step of a decidedly long and complicated journey, which will be punctuated by many difficulties, but seeing the response when these teenagers were called into action can only be pleasing.
In the meantime, work continues ‘on the lower floors’ with Ignazio Abate, who last season got to the final four in the UEFA Youth League and this season topped the group.
There is a next step too: the club’s intention to create a ‘B-team’, or an U23 side, to put in Serie C as Juventus did their Next Gen side. They believe it will be a perfect intermediate step to the bring the talents into the first team.
It will have an initial cost but however would have very important medium-long term benefits, both technical and economic, but also with regards to the composition of squad lists which require homegrown players.
