AC Milan appear to have something pretty special in their ranks as Francesco Camarda continues to draw headlines for his goalscoring exploits.
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Sciabolata Morbida‘s revelation on Twitter last year went viral as he highlighted that the then-13-year-old striker scored 247 goals in 40 games in 2017-18, 172 goals in 31 games in 2018-19 and 64 goals in 16 games in 2019-20 for a total of 483 goals in 87 games, at 5.5 average goals per game.
Milan’s Primavera head coach Ignazio Abate welcomed Camarda to his squad as one of three new players who got a taste of training at that level in December, and he scored twice against what was virtually an adult side. But what makes him so special? Scout7Calcio has taken a look…
Camarda possesses the following attributes: incredible Composure (instinct) and finishing, high footballing IQ, there understanding and vision for finding space and timing Runs into it, pace (over a bigger Distance), dribbling even in tight spaces, good link-up play and good hold-up ability. Sounds pretty good right?
Movement and IQ
Below you can see Camarda’s movement and how intelligent he is, as it always seems like he is two or three steps ahead and he knows exactly how he and his team-mate should move relative to how the opponent will.
I want to start with his High IQ,here i want to show you his movement and how intelligent he is,it always seems like he is 2-3 steps ahead and exactly knows how to move/how the Teammate should move and how the Opponent will move:🔽
(you need to pause)pic.twitter.com/lciyGAIy8g— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
The next clip is a good demonstration of his IQ and vision of the spaces that he sees and also his understanding when to run into it. He first pulls out the defender on the wing to open space for his team-mate, then by the time he is back he himself runs into that space.
In this Clip i want to show again his High IQ + Vision of the Spaces that he sees and understands when to run into it, here he first pulls out the defender on the wing to open Space for his Teammate,at the time he is back he himself runs into that Space:🔽pic.twitter.com/VQAMDxOZvu
— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
Once again he sees the space he wants to run into, but it is more interesting to see his composure in front of the goal, or even moreso his instinct. The moment he receives the ball he also could try to instantly shoot, yet he makes a cutback and finishes well.
Again here he sees the space he wants to run into it,but its more interesting to see his Calmness in front of the goal,or better his Instinct. The moment he receives the ball he also could try to instantly shoot,but he makes a cutback and finishes:🔽pic.twitter.com/GaOlWNhkOt
— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
In the move below Camarda drops deep this time as the target man for a long pass. He wins the ball and instantly starts his run into the space in which he wants to receive the ball, and with his pace he gets the ball first before using his dribbling to beat three defenders.
Here in this clip again he drops deep this time as the Target Man for a long pass,he wins the ball and instantly starts his run into the Space he wants to receive the ball,with his Pace he gets the ball first and uses his Dribbling to beat 3 defenders:🔽pic.twitter.com/IKtbkYgIpS
— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
Hold-up play
His physicality and hold-up play must be highlighted too. Despite only being 14 years of age and playing against predominantly 16-year-olds, he has an impressive physique and can hold the ball up – even against 3 defenders – very well, even when opponents throw themselves against him.
Here i want to show his Physicality and Hold Up play,for only being 14yrs and playing against 16yr he has an impressive Physique and can hold up (even against 3 defenders)very well,even defenders throwing themself against him,wont make him lose the ball:🔽pic.twitter.com/IiwDxty0kv
— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
Aerial and ground threat
Camarda is also showing strong signs of being comfortable with both feet. Below you can see two different but equally emphatic finishes, one with him left foot and one with his right, to the extent you almost cannot tell which foot is the weak one. This always gives defenders massive problems, because they can’t simply show him onto his weaker side.
Now to him being both footed.
Here i want to show two of his goals where he finishes with the same strength,watching him you almost cant tell which foot is the weak one,this always gives defenders massive problems,cause they defend him on his weakfoot:🔽pic.twitter.com/2V4m9hONh5— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
Camarda’s aerial ability is also impressive. According to some sources he is around 1.84m tall already which helps winning a lot of duels in the air, but he also already knows exactly how to move inside the box, i.e. when to time his jump to make dangerous headers.
Another Strength of him is his Aerial ability:
According to some sources he is around 1.84cm already which helps winning alot of Aerial duels,but he also already knows exactly how to move inside the box,when to time his jump to make dangerous headers:🔽pic.twitter.com/Hr6TZKIIuS— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
Dribbling
Dribbling is another area where the teenager seems to be ahead of his years. He starts the situation below in a 1v1 but it quickly becomes a 1v2, yet the forward shows his really good tight ball control and uses a burst of acceleration to quickly dribble through both of them and score.
Now Coming to another Strength of him, his Dribbling.
In this Clip he faces first a 1v1 but will quickly be a 1v2, Camarda shows his really good tight Ball Control and uses a burst of Acceleration to quickly dribble through both of them and score:🔽pic.twitter.com/4LNZiDwFIg— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
Even in tight space with his back against a wall he can always use his dribbling to get out of it. As seen in the next clip, he has to dribble against threee defenders in really close quarters, since the game is almost over and his team-mates aren’t moving in to help him, but he manages to.
Even in tight Space with his back against a “wall” he always can use his dribbling to get out of it, here he has to dribble against 3 defenders in really tight space,since the game is almost over and his Teammates arent moving in to help him:🔽pic.twitter.com/FVolDWGA9x
— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 9, 2023
However, at the age of 14 it is very important that he has people around him like family and friends (plus of course coaches) who keep his feet on the ground.
There is naturally the risk of trying to do too much too soon, but it feels like the U16 level is way too easy for his skill set and their has to be discussions regarding either putting him into the Primavera and letting him develop against bigger and older players, or at the very least being used in the U17s.
He has to be moved up now, because ultimately it is better that he scores a few less goals but is exposed to stronger players than letting him play every week against defences that do not know how to deal with him.
Knowing Abate and how he constantly moves up U17 players, plus also knowing that Liberali and Camarda both were both in training in December with the Primavera, it seems there is already a plan behind the scenes to bring him up when the moment is right. Then, the world will watch Francesco Camarda.
