2019/20 Serie A Breakout Stars of the Season: Who will light up Italy?
Italy has them too, many others. Here are five of some of the wonderkids who could make major inroads in Italian football this new season.
Matteo Gabbia of Italy U18 celebrates after scoring the goal 1-1 during the international friendly match between Italy U18 and Slovenia U18 on August 11, 2016 in Codroipo near Palmanova, Italy.
(Aug. 10, 2016 - Source: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images Europe)
1. Matteo Gabbia
Age: 19
Club: AC Milan
Position: Midfielder
He represented Italy at the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and then joined Milan’s youth Academy where things escalated quickly for him, getting a call by the head coach Vincenzo Montella into the senior team. We are looking forward to see what the youngster will bless the Series A with and this season might just be the one for him, playing with like minds in the youthful Milan squad.
2. Eljif Elmas
Age: 19
Club: Napoli
Position: Midfielder
The Macedonian joined Napoli on the 24th of July of 2019. In 2017, he was the youngest player in the Macedonia U21 team that went to Poland to represent the country in the U21 European Championship. It’s not every day that you hear of a player of Macedonian decent playing in a top league such as the Serie A, unless they are a rare find. Eljif is such a one.
3. Ebrima Colley
Age: 19
Club: Atalanta
Position: Midfielder
Eljif Elmas of Fenerbache SK during the match between SL Benfica and Fenerbache SK for UEFA Champions League Qualifier at Estadio da Luz on August 7, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.
(Aug. 6, 2018 - Source: Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images Europe)
Born in Serekunda, Gambia, Ebrima is part of the Gambian national team. He is currently spreading his wings in Italy where he has been playing for the Under-19 squad of Atalanta since the 2017-18 season. Colley is at the best place for young talent in the ranks of Atalanta whose recent rise to the top is hugely attributed to like players. Playing alongside fellow Gambian in Musa Barrow, best believe he is in a conducive environment for growth.
4. Sandro Tonali
Age: 19
Club: Brescia
Position: Midfielder
He was part of the Italian national squad that made it to the finals of the U-19 UEFA European Championship where they lost 4-3 to Portugal. That should be a testament of how much talent Sandro is about to unleash in the Series A. He has been recognized in the media for his energy, co-ordination and technical qualities that enable me to achieve the most with his right foot. He won the Series B footballer of the year in 2018 and this year, he will compete with the best of Italy with the renowed Mario Balotelli on his side
5. Luan Capanni
Age: 19
Club: AC Milan
Position: Forward
Some of us might have last seen him at Lazio and not know that he signed a contract with Milan on the 20th of August 2019. Before that, he was at Flamengo and Corinthians. He holds both Brazilian and Italian citizenship and he is hoping to represent the Italian national football team in future. That’s Milan’s second on this list, after Gabbia. They are surely planning the stuff of legends with the young blood.