Outside90’s two-part preview of Serie A’s breakout youngsters wraps up with Frank Garrasi’s pick of the bunch.
Another season, another set of promising youngsters. As some of Serie A’s finest scour the continents in search of established talent that may lift their side, there are those who decide upon investing in the future.
Last season saw the emergence of many prospects in Italy’s top flight.
Names such as Felipe Anderson, Paulo Dybala and Daniele Rugani stepped onto the scene and showcased their abilities to the wide footballing world.
And as the commencement of the 2015-16 Serie A campaign draws near, the upcoming season promises to unveil an even greater array of young talent.
Baldé Keita (20, attacker, Lazio)
With the Biancocelesti signing fellow youngster and winger Ricardo Kishna from Ajax, playing time may look scarce for Keita, especially considering Stefano Pioli already boasts Felipe Anderson and Antonio Candreva in those positions.
However, with Lazio assured of qualification in Europe (Champions League depending on whether they are successful in the upcoming play-off), squad rotation is likely, meaning the Spanish-born whiz-kid may enjoy regular minutes this term.
A senior player at the club since 2013, the 20-year-old has never truly made the breakthrough in Serie A, although he has always been highly rated, at least locally.
The 2014-15 campaign saw the fleet-footed winger make 23 league appearances for the third-placed side, however many of these were off the bench. His performances last term will, however, give Pioli a selection headache heading into the new season, and Keita, with all the talent he possesses, can grasp the chances he gets with both hands and finally enjoy a breakthrough campaign.
Andrea Belotti (21, attacker, Palermo)
With Paulo Dybala leaving for Juventus in a €32 million (potentially €40 million) deal, manager Giuseppe Iachini will look to 21-year-old Belotti to fill the hole up front alongside Franco Vázquez.
Despite featuring in all 38 league games for the Rosanero last season, the striker rarely turned out for the full 90 minutes, instead showing glimpses of his potential in fleeting appearances from the bench.
With Dybala gone, a clear path to the first team has opened up for Belotti. Soon to be in his second season as a senior footballer in Serie A, expect the pacey front-man, who has nine goals in 18 Under-21 appearances for Italy, to add to his league tally of six.
Ali Adnan (21, defender, Udinese)
Only recently acquired from Turkish Süper Lig outfit Çaykur Rizespor, the Iraqi left-back has the talent on the ball and positional and defensive awareness off it to be a major success at the Stadio Friuli.
At only 21 years of age, Adnan has already turned out for his nation 34 times, playing a key role in Iraq’s 2015 AFC Asian Cup run to the semi-finals. As well as this, the athletic left-back was the recipient of the Asian Young Footballer of the Year in 2013 and was also named in World Soccer Magazine’s Top 10 stars of the 2013 Under-20 World Cup, a tournament in which Paul Pogba starred.
With the left-back position at Udinese there for the taking, Adnan can become a defensive stalwart for the club and announce himself, once more, as one of football’s hottest young talents.
Daniele Verde (19, attacker, Frosinone)
Seen as AS Roma’s next homegrown icon, Verde only made his senior debut this year, coming off the bench to replace Juan Manuel Iturbe in a 1-1 away draw against Palermo on January 17th.
In his first league start for the club, three weeks later, Verde stole the show, dazzling throughout and providing the assists that led to both of Roma’s goals in a 2-1 away win against Cagliari. And after only seven league appearances for the winger under Rudi García, he will now be spending 2015-16 on loan at Serie A newcomers Frosinone.
This is a good move for both player and club as, already possessing the likes of Iturbe, Mohamed Salah, Alessandro Florenzi, Víctor Ibarbo, and Iago Falque on the right-flank, it is unlikely that the 19-year-old would have gained many minutes for the Giallorossi this term.
The Roma youth product has the ability to make an impression with regular minutes, and at Frosinone he has the perfect platform to provide that.
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