Italy’s football heritage is one that spans centuries of tactical play, defensive masterclasses and cult heroes. We have long had a culture of veterans and old hands, but that is beginning to shift. Italian football is a youth revolution. While veterans still hog the spotlight in Serie A, a generation of up-and-coming youngsters are helping to ensure the Italian game is in good hands.
The next generation of Italian footballers are in the making – local or young and learning in the European clubs, here are the next generation’s rising stars of the game.
Giorgio Scalvini
Italian youth football would not be complete without Giorgio Scalvini. Scalvini, at just 20, has been a big hit at Atalanta where young talents are always welcome. Often compared to another rising star,
Daniel Maldini, this massive central defender is cool, collected and makes sense of the situation like an old pro. Technically, he can run from the back, which is crucial in modern football, and defensively, his awareness is undoubtedly above average for such a young man.
The thing that distinguishes Scalvini is versatility. He can not only be a centre-back but he can play as a defensive midfielder. That versatility makes him a hot commodity at club and international level. Already rumoured to be one of the most valuable players in Italy’s team, he could, if his progress is any indication, be following in the footsteps of some of Italy’s greatest defenders.
Nicolò Rovella
Nicolò Rovella is another player who is fast emerging from the crowd. Luckily, Juventus identified the need in time and picked him up from Genoa, although he’s now taking valuable time on loan at Lazio. Rovella has an old-school Italian midfield air about him. He has a lot of vision, is calm on the ball and can pace a game with exacting passes.
Rovella is no depth player who dumps possession around, though. At 22, he is picking up important experience and will likely be a fixture in Juventus’ midfield for decades to come. At a time when the national team is trying to find a new generation of midfield aces, Rovella looks poised to step up.
Wilfried Gnonto
Italy has never exactly boasted a rocketing winger in the past, but Wilfried Gnonto wants to rectify that. After impressing at Inter Milan before making the switch abroad, Gnonto has been playing in the Premier League for Leeds United and has already proved to be a class act with his moments of genius that have been catching everybody’s eye.
Gnonto is an exciting player – he’s speedy, direct and doesn’t shunt defenders to the ground. His low centre of gravity means he’s also pretty agile in tumbling forward over opponents, and he’s as capable of creating opportunities as he is of assisting in them. He’s 20 years old but you can see him getting more confident with every game.
With Italy’s past preference for more organised, defensive play, a midfielder such as Gnonto adds some much-needed flair and originality to the side. Speed and dribbling will also be a valuable tool for his club and nation in attack, and he’s definitely one to keep an eye on while he’s maturing under pressure in the Premier League.
He’s also loved by both bookies and bettors – you can find a sign-up betting bonus pretty much anywhere you go if you’d like to bet on Wilfried Gnonto.
Tommaso Baldanzi
Every great team needs a playmaker, and Tommaso Baldanzi is going to step up. The attacking midfielder, who is currently impressing for Roma, has quickly established himself as a fan favourite. He has the boldness, the vision and the ability to break in and play in narrow spaces – Baldanzi is the type of man who breaks defences open with a single pass.
But what’s most exciting about Baldanzi is his eye for the goal. He can open the way for his teammates but he’s also capable of bursting on to score key goals himself. Technically, he’s excellent but in-field IQ is what makes him special. He doesn’t waste time playing on his defenders, nor does he take their feet off the ball.
Baldanzi has not quite captured the attention of his teammates yet, but don’t get me wrong, he’s got all the make-or-break stuff to become a superstar soon. Whether he remains at Roma or moves on to a bigger club, he’s a name to remember.
Fabio Miretti
Another ace from Juventus’ formidable youth system, Fabio Miretti, has been advancing steadily. Miretti already has a broad-based game to translate well to the modern game, and at just 21 years old he has that something special. He’s more than an engine up the middle – he has an eye for the long ball, the legs to grind through every blade of grass, and the mind to read the ball like an old dog.
Miretti is one of the most intriguing young midfielders you can imagine. He can be deployed as a box-to-box midfielder but also deeper in that midfield role to dictate play from an extended position. Genoa fans are already talking about him and it is not hard to imagine the club wants him to be one of the next big things.
The game is hot in the Genoa midfield and Miretti is gaining invaluable experience, and if he continues his growth at this rate, his name might just make it onto the squad sheet.
Conclusion
Italian football’s youth movement is in full swing, and these players are at the vanguard. There is no dearth of defenders like Scalvini, midfield wizards such as Rovella and Miretti, or strikers such as Gnonto and Baldanzi – there are plenty to revel in. They’ll become the ones that will set Italian football alight as they continue to mature and express themselves on the club and international stages.
And hey, if you’re a betting nut, don’t miss out on these upcoming talents. With some diligence and good luck, you can get in before anyone else and bet on the next wave of Italian talent before they rocket to the world stage. The road is good for Italy, and these boys are in the lead.
