When Premier League clubs search for young talent in France, Portugal, Spain or Germany, they are spoiled for choice. Clubs who fail to shop well in those markets need to take a long, hard look at the quality of their recruitment staff and scouting structures.
This is not the case in Italy. For too many Serie A clubs, young talent is about as welcome as a few slices of pineapple on their traditional Sunday night pizza.
There are many excellent sporting directors in Italian football but their brief is usually deal-making, not developing. Many Serie A coaches do not last the season and some clubs make more than one change in the dugout across the campaign. It is hardly the environment for young players to thrive.
But the talent is there. Italy won the European Under 17 title last summer and the Under 19 crown the previous year. They were Under 20 runners-up in 2023 and lost in the Under 19 final last year.
Juventus, Roma and Atalanta recruit well at youth level and AC Milan are catching up, too. The combined average age across the 11th round of matches in Serie A this season was 26.7, so perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Here Mail Sport examines 20 top talents aged 23 and under who Premier League clubs should be tracking – and which ones are the best fits.
Juventus youngsters Vasilije Adzic and Kenan Yildiz are among wonderkids to keep an eye on
Giorgio Scalvini can become one of the finest defenders in the world during the next decade
SAMUELE RICCI
Age: 23
Club: Torino
Country: Italy
Position: Central midfielder
When Italy flopped horribly at Euro 2024, Luciano Spalletti knew he needed to change to survive. He settled on the 3-5-2 formation and handed the keys to a tall central midfielder from Torino, a club rich in history and soul despite its relatively low profile outside Italy.
In the tiresome modern jargon, Ricci is ‘press-resistant’. In plain English, that means he is able to retain possession superbly under pressure. In an analysis conducted across 20 of the world’s best leagues by the respected CIES Football Observatory, Ricci was second only to Bayern Munich and Germany star Joshua Kimmich in this category.
Though not a flashy player, the way Ricci receives and uses the ball is very impressive. He is already helping Italy turn a corner and will surely be doing the same in the Champions League before long.
Possible landing spots: Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest
Torino central midfielder Samuele Ricci is helping the Italian national team turn a corner
SABA GOGLICHIDZE
Age: 20
Club: Empoli
Country: Georgia
Position: Centre back
The success of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Napoli has made clubs in Europe’s top leagues, particularly those in Serie A, look closely at Georgian football, and Goglichidze is one of several young talents generating interest.
In some ways, Goglichidze is a throwback. Playing on the right of a back three, he is one of the top tacklers in Serie A and is rarely beaten – an impressive record for a side who sit deep and invite pressure.
Goglichidze, whose idol is Paolo Maldini and made his senior debut for his country in September, is a work in progress. He can appear scruffy on the ball and needs to improve his passing. Yet the raw material is there and he could be an ideal buy for a bottom-half Premier League club one day.
Possible landing spots: Ipswich, Wolves, West Ham
Georgian centre back Saba Goglichidze is a top tackler but remains a work in progress
MORTEN FRENDRUP
Age: 23
Club: Genoa
Country: Denmark
Position: Midfield
Unless you’re a genius, you won’t make it as a Premier League midfielder if you can’t move about the pitch efficiently – and Frendrup certainly passes that test.
A glance at the Dane’s average position heatmap for last season shows he pops up everywhere, usually helping out team-mates with defensive duties or snuffing out attacks. Known as a shy character, Frendrup’s role reflects his personality.
According to StatHead metrics, Frendrup’s defensive work compares well with that of Wolves pair Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes, who remain strong Premier League midfielders despite their side’s dreadful form. He has also been compared with Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, and the Bees have an outstanding record with Nordic players.
Either way, Frendrup is ready to leave Genoa. The Premier League looks an ideal destination – though maybe in the bottom half of the table rather than the top.
Possible landing spots: Brentford, Crystal Palace, Wolves
Morten Frendrup, left, pops up everywhere and helps out team-mates with his defensive work
MATTIA VITI
Age: 22
Club: Empoli, on loan from Nice
Country: Italy
Position: Centre back
Two summers ago, Sir Jim Ratcliffe spent about £11million to bring a left-footed Italian centre back from Empoli to Nice. A year later, Mattia Viti was back in Serie A on loan after making nine appearances in Ligue 1, and Empoli have the option to buy him back permanently at the end of the season.
On the face of it, it looks a failed transfer, but it is worth digging a little deeper. Viti had spent his life in Italy’s Tuscany region and was moving abroad for the first time. The previous November, his mother had died when he was just 19. It is no surprise he found it difficult.
The statistics today tell a different story. Empoli are one of the best defensive teams in Italy and Viti’s numbers track well against those of Arsenal centre back Gabriel Magalhaes. The 6ft 3in Under 21 international has won 60 per cent of his duels this season.
Numbers tell only a part of the story and Viti needs to prove he can thrive outside Tuscany. There is certainly a player here, though.
Possible landing spots: Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle
Mattia Viti, left, struggled at Nice but is impressing back in Italy after returning to Empoli
ANGE-YOAN BONNY
Age: 21
Club: Parma
Country: France
Position: Forward
Watching Bonny, it is easy to be reminded of Olivier Giroud. His neat touch, physical power and preference for dropping deep and linking play all invite comparisons with the former Arsenal and Chelsea forward.
Bonny is not there yet. His technique is not yet as refined as Giroud’s and he does not use his body as cleverly as his fellow Frenchman. Yet this ability both to combine with team-mates and to stretch the play by running behind defences make him very exciting.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca brought Bonny into the first-team squad during his brief spell at Parma.
‘He’s an introverted lad, a hard worker,’ said former France international Benoit Cauet. Bonny will make himself heard soon enough.
Possible landing spots: Brentford, Brighton, Fulham
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca brought Ange-Yoan Bonny into Parma’s team during his brief spell
FRANCESCO CAMARDA
Age: 16
Club: AC Milan
Country: Italy
Position: Forward
They couldn’t waste another one, could they? Camarda was considered good enough to make his AC Milan debut aged 15 and only a VAR check stopped him becoming the youngest scorer in Champions League history, against Club Bruges last month. He has been compared with Robert Lewandowski and former Milan striker Fernando Torres.
But as we have mentioned, Italian football does not trust young players. The best Milan can do, apparently, has been to lend Camarda to Milan Futuro – effectively their ‘B’ team, who play in the third tier.
Camarda has only one goal in six league games at that level, though he has found the net three times in five Italy Under 19 caps. A season in tough, lower-league football may be the making of him.
The fear, however, is that Milan will give up on him too quickly. If they do, he will surely make the grade elsewhere.
Possible landing spots: Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Only VAR prevented Francesco Camarda becoming the youngest Champions League scorer
PIETRO COMUZZO
Age: 19
Club: Fiorentina
Country: Italy
Position: Centre back
Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci might have retired, but there are plenty of players ready to take on the mantle. Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni is one of the world’s top centre backs, Giorgio Scalvini will surely become one and Riccardo Calafiori was good enough to be signed by Arsenal last summer.
Comuzzo has broken into the team only this season, yet the fact he has stayed in it already says a lot about him.
Fiorentina is an emotional club and a tough crowd, especially for academy players. Comuzzo is taking it in his stride and Fiorentina have already seen enough to reward him with a new four-year contract in September.
Raffaele Palladino has dropped the defensive line closer to goal since replacing Vincenzo Italiano as boss, and that will help Comuzzo.
Could he work in a higher line? The jury is out yet Comuzzo’s composure, willingness to learn and solid defensive traits are encouraging signs for the future.
Possible landing spots: Everton, Crystal Palace
Pietro Comuzzo only broke into Fiorentina’s team this season and has taken it in his stride
KHVICHA KVARATSKHELIA
Age: 23
Club: Napoli
Country: Georgia
Position: Winger
Hardly an unknown quantity, we admit. Yet Kvaratskhelia is still only 23 and any list of top Serie A talents would be incomplete without him.
Brighton were on to ‘Kvaradona’ – as the Georgian quickly became known in Naples after his spectacular start to life in Italy – before most European clubs, but the lure of Champions League football was enough to tempt him to Serie A.
Kvaratskhelia is tall, quick, skilful and able to score and create by cutting in from the left on to his right foot, and was one of the leading lights as they swept to the Serie A title last year, their first Scudetto since 1990 and the days of Diego Maradona.
As Victor Osimhen has found, it is fiendishly difficult to persuade Napoli to sell their top players. But Kvaratskhelia is good enough to make elite clubs push the boat out, even in the era of stricter financial controls.
Possible landing spots: Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a known quality now and one elite clubs should push the boat out for
ADRIAN BERNABE
Age: 23
Club: Parma
Country: Spain
Position: Central midfielder
If you could build a typical Spanish midfielder, it would look something like Bernabe. Outstanding balance, sure touch, clever movement and daring passing. Yet few have had as tough a route to top-level football.
When Bernabe joined Parma in 2021, the medical he underwent picked up a heart defect. ‘I was there alone with my agent,’ recalls Bernabe. ‘I was far away from my family and had to tell them by phone. It was a difficult moment.’
Luckily, Bernabe was able to resume his career after surgery and he has barely looked back.
Despite failing to make the grade in the youth ranks at Barcelona or Manchester City – where he made one appearance in a 3-0 League Cup win at Oxford United in September 2018 – Bernabe was helped by current Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca during their short time together at Parma. One day they may be reunited.
Possible landing spots: Chelsea, Brighton, Bournemouth
Adrian Bernabe has had a tough route to top-level football but is impressing at Parma
MANDELA KEITA
Age: 22
Club: Parma
Country: Belgium
Position: Midfielder
Put yourself in Mandela Keita’s shoes. You make a £10million move to Parma and make your debut 10 minutes into the second half of a Serie A fixture at Udinese. Less than 20 minutes later, you’re shown a second yellow card and given an early bath.
It is all part of the learning process for a defensive midfielder who has been on Premier League radars for some time. Keita, who wears ‘Mandela’ on his shirt, is a classic No 6 – quick, agile, athletic, and strong in duels.
‘My mum chose the name ‘Mandela’,’ said Keita, who is of Guinean descent and was born in Leuven, Belgium. ‘She brought me up on her own. She always told me never to surrender, like Nelson Mandela.’
Parma is the perfect spot for Keita. They trust young players and play a progressive game, meaning his defensive skills will be tested.
As a newly promoted side, they will face tough times this season. If Keita can pass all those tests, it will convince stronger clubs he can take the next step.
Possible landing spots: Brighton, Tottenham, Manchester United
Parma’s Mandela Keita, right, is a classic No 6 – quick, agile, athletic, and strong in duels
MICHAEL KAYODE
Age: 20
Club: Fiorentina
Country: Italy
Position: Full back/winger
A star of Italy’s victorious European Under 19 Championship campaign in 2023, Kayode quickly forced his way into Fiorentina’s first team and his start to last season was so impressive that there was even talk of a call-up to the senior national team in the early days of the Luciano Spalletti era.
The hype train has slowed since then. Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino does not regard Kayode as highly as his old boss Vincenzo Italiano did and Kayode has managed a handful of minutes in Serie A this season.
That does not mean we should give up on him. Kayode has remarkable energy, allowing him to cover the entire right flank with relative ease, is tenacious in defence and dangerous in attack. He remains one of the top-rated Under 21 players in Italy and we will surely see much more from him.
Possible landing spots: Aston Villa, Tottenham, Bournemouth
The hype train has slowed around Michael Kayode, but he remains a top Under-21 talent in Italy
NICOLO ROVELLA
Age: 22
Club: Lazio
Position: Central midfielder
‘What took him so long?’ That was the phrase on the lips of most of Rovella’s current and former team-mates when he earned a first call-up to the Italy squad this week, for the Nations League fixtures against Belgium and France.
Modelling his game on Luka Modric and Frenkie de Jong, Rovella is a linchpin of the Lazio side surprising many in Serie A and can go as far as he likes in the game. He reminds many of Demetrio Albertini, the great Italy midfielder of the 1990s. Now he must show he can emulate him.
Rovella, who never made the grade at Juventus, is a huge fan of MMA. ‘I find it amazing how they can fight to the point where they draw blood and still show respect for each other,’ he has said.
Reaching the Champions League elite is no easy task but Rovella, it seems, is up for the battle.
Possible landing spots: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal
Nicolo Rovella is the linchpin of Lazio’s side and has earned his first Italy call-up this week
KENAN YILDIZ
Age: 19
Club: Juventus
Country: Turkey
Position: Attacking midfielder/winger
In the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era, Juventus decided to focus heavily on younger players. They would try to sign the best talent around, develop those players in their Next Gen squad – which competes in Italy’s third tier – and move the best ones into the first-team group.
The benefit was obvious: by having these players early, Juve could coach them exactly as they wanted. And if ever they needed to sell, they could do so for substantial profit. Pretty handy for a club who in early November announced losses of £165m.
They won’t get every one right but Yildiz is the poster boy for the new policy. The rise of the German-born Turk, who already has 16 caps for his country and went to Euro 2024, meant Juve were happy to sell Federico Chiesa to Liverpool last summer.
If Yildiz progresses at his current rate, Juve are looking at a player worth £100m-plus – with a few specific exceptions, the only clubs who can afford such fees are in England.
Possible landing spots: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea
If Kenan Yildiz continues progressing at his current rate, Juventus are looking at a £100m star
VASILIJE ADZIC
Age: 18
Club: Juventus
Country: Montenegro
Position: Attacking midfielder
Juventus signed Adzic from Montenegrin club Buducnost Podgorica at the start of the year and they are designing a similar route to the one Yildiz followed.
Adzic, an attacking midfielder, was highlighted in August by respected youth football platform Scouted, who compared him with Kevin De Bruyne. Adzic has already made his Serie A debut and there will be plenty more appearances to come.
As long as he can stay injury-free, Adzic could be one of the finest players to emerge from the Balkans for many years.
Possible landing spots: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal
Montenegro youngster Vasilije Adzic has earned comparisons to Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne
REDA BELAHYANE
Age: 20
Club: Hellas Verona
Country: Morocco
Position: Defensive midfielder
N’Golo Kante is a pretty good model for aspiring young midfielders and the former Leicester and Chelsea star has long since been Belahyane’s idol.
‘He has been my example since I was a child,’ says Belahyane. ‘He sets an example both on and off the pitch. He is always calm off the pitch, always aggressive on it.’
Belahyane was born in France but has chosen to play for Morocco, the country of his ancestors, and made his senior debut for them in October. As well as being able to win and retain possession, Belahyane is an impressive ball carrier from the centre.
Among players in Europe’s top five leagues under the age of 21, only Lamine Yamal, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Nico Paz (more of him later) have completed more dribbles than Belahyane this season. However, Belahyane has already been booked three times and sent off once this season – issues that need addressing.
Possible landing spots: Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton
Hellas Verona’s Reda Belahyane, right, has been modelling his game on N’Golo Kante
GIORGIO SCALVINI
Age: 20
Club: Atalanta
Country: Italy
Position: Defender
Fingers crossed Scalvini makes a full recovery from the ACL injury he sustained last summer, which ruled him out of Italy’s Euro 2024 squad, because Scalvini is one of the best Italy has produced for many years and can become one of the finest defenders in the world during the next decade.
It was love at first sight for Ally McCoist, whose eye was drawn to Scalvini while commentating on Atalanta’s win over Bayer Leverkusen in last season’s Europa League final, and most of Europe’s top clubs feel the same way.
He is the dream modern centre back, with the vision to launch attacks and the courage and timing to stop them. Scalvini scores highly in all the key metrics offered by the respected StatHead website.
Scalvini plans to enrol at university after his career and, unlike many footballers, shows little interest in games consoles. As long as he stays healthy, whoever buys him will be getting their hands on a true gem.
Possible landing spots: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham
Scalvini, centre right, enchanted Ally McCoist as helped Atalanta win the Europa League
NICCOLO PISILLI
Age: 20
Club: Roma
Country: Italy
Position: Central midfielder
Life isn’t easy for Roman footballers who play Roma. Just ask current captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is whistled constantly by fans who believe he was culpable for the sacking of another local hero, Daniele De Rossi, as manager earlier this season.
De Rossi himself had ups and downs with the home crowd, as did Francesco Totti – probably the greatest player in the club’s history. It will not be simple to follow in their footsteps.
The early signs are positive. Pisilli would do well to study his near-namesake, Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, when the pair link up for Italy duty. Like Barella, Pisilli is an energetic midfielder who contributes effectively all over the pitch.
Yet staying in Rome for life might not be the wisest option. Liverpool have recruited superbly from Roma in the past, signing Mohamed Salah and Alisson. New transfer chief Richard Hughes is a Serie A expert and will have clocked Pisilli some time ago.
Possible landing spots: Liverpool, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest
Roma’s Niccolo Pisilli is an energetic midfielder who contributes effectively all over the pitch
NICO PAZ
Age: 20
Club: Como
Country: Argentina
Position: Attacking midfield
One of the gems of Real Madrid’s La Fabrica academy, Paz was sold to Serie A club Como for about £5m last summer. It is a shrewd move: he is working under a Spanish manager, Cesc Fabregas, and needs to be the main man for a team likely to spend the campaign fighting relegation.
He has already been endorsed by the best. After Paz made his debut for Argentina in a 6-0 win over Bolivia in October, Lionel Messi said: ‘He has a very impressive mind and understands game situations perfectly. He likes to play with the ball at his feet and he’ll feel at home here.’
Paz was born in Spain but has chosen to represent the country of his father, Pablo, who won 14 caps for La Albiceleste including at France ‘98. He has already claimed one goal and four assists this season and has the potential to achieve far greater things.
Possible landing spots: Brighton, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest
Nico Paz made his Argentina debut last month and earned the endorsement of Lionel Messi
PATRICK DORGU
Age: 20
Club: Lecce
Country: Denmark
Position: Left back
Lecce paid just £200,000 to bring Dorgu into their academy two years ago and all things being equal, they are virtually guaranteed to make a huge profit on him.
Tall, athletic and adventurous, Dorgu looks made to measure for the Premier League and has already broken into the Denmark senior squad, scoring 42 seconds into his debut with his very first touch against Switzerland.
Unai Emery loves height in his defence. When Villa replace Lucas Digne, Emery will want competition for Ian Maatsen and 6ft 2in Dorgu’s profile is sure to catch their eye.
Possible landing spots: Aston Villa, Manchester United, Brentford
Patrick Dorgu is sure to net Lecce a huge profit and his profile could catch Unai Emery’s eye
MATIAS SOULE
Age: 21
Club: Roma
Country: Argentina
Position: Winger
Right player, right club… wrong time. An attacker like Soule, with his brilliant ball-carrying and quick feet, should be perfect for a club like Roma but like so many of his team-mates, he is suffering in a season of chaos in Rome.
He turned down interest from Bournemouth and Leicester to move from Juventus to the Italian capital.
Aston Villa also wanted to include Soule in the deal that took Douglas Luiz to Turin but Juventus knew that they could generate a high fee for him and declined.
Born in Argentina but eligible for Italy, Soule rejected the chance to join Luciano Spalletti’s squad for Euro 2024, having starred on loan that season at Frosinone with 11 goals in Serie A.
Since the start of last season, only Soule and German wonderkid Florian Wirtz have completed more than 90 dribbles and created more than 90 chances for their team-mates in Europe’s top five leagues. Soule’s time will come again.
Possible landing spots: Aston Villa, Tottenham, Bournemouth
Matias Soule is a brilliant ball carrier with quick feet but is suffering in the chaos at Roma