Young Italian Football Stars to Watch in 2021
Serie A may not have commenced with as much fanfare as usual in 2020, as coronavirus prevented crowds in the stands, but there was still just as much drama on the field as ever. Last season saw a number of new young players begin to make their mark. Here are our picks for the top five rising Italian football stars to watch in 2021.
1 – Riccardo Calafiori
This 18 year old wonderkid made his first ever professional goal on his second UEFA Europa League appearance, and what a goal it was! A free kick took him to 25 yards of the goal, and he smashed the ball right into the top corner. A left-back, Calafiori has been in Roma’s academy since he was nine. He rose to prominence at 15 when he was instrumental in the club’s U17s winning the league and cup double. He is now just at the start of his professional career, but he will surely be one to watch in the coming seasons.
2 – Marash Kumbulla
The 20-year-old is hot player news as Marash Kumbulla was only 8 when he joined the Verona system. The center-back joined Roma, reportedly for an astronomical fee of around EUR 25 million, in September 2020. When it comes to his play style, he is a risk taker, though has a remarkable ability to stay calm under pressure. Despite his young age, he has the confidence to take charge in his games. He is an exciting player and has the potential to make a real difference in a team’s performance.
3 – Daniel Maldini
Playing for AC Milan, Daniel Maldini comes from a line of football stars, as Paolo Maldini’s son and Cesare Maldini’s grandson. However, instead of picking up the family mantle as a defender, he plays as a midfielder, and this may just be what leads to his success. He made his Serie A debut last term, but this year will be the 19 year old’s first season in the UEFA Europa League. His wondergoals in Serie A were reminiscent of Thierry Henry, and it’s a good thing too – with his older brother Christian failing to make the grade, all pressure is on Daniel to uphold the family legacy.
4 – Andrea Adorante
Andrea Adorante had his breakthrough in the 2018/2019 season at Internazionale Primavera’s under 19s and was a frequent goal scorer in his games. He was quickly nabbed by Parma for the following Serie A season, but a cruciate ligament injury prevented him from playing. Now, many eyes are on this 20 year old to see if he can live up to the potential he evidenced two years ago.
5 – Sandro Tonali
At 20, Sandro Tonali has made an impressive 89 appearances, scoring 6 goals and assisting his teammates on many occasions. He is a fan favorite much like https://onlinegamblingcasino.xyz/, and while coveted by many of Europe’s elite teams, he is now playing for AC Milan for a year and potentially long term. With a killer combination of good technique and concentration, as well as aggression and determination, it’s not hard to see why all the managers want him on their team.