The Serie A has long since drifted out of conversations about Europe’s elite leagues. Gone are the days of Kaká and AC Milan’s star-studded side, when Ballon d’Or winners were scattered across Italy’s biggest clubs. Today, Italian football finds itself playing catch-up, increasingly taking a backseat in discussions about Europe’s top divisions.
The lack of recent European success only reinforces that perception. No Italian side has lifted the Champions League since Inter Milan’s triumph in 2010, 16 years ago. For a league that once stood at the pinnacle of European football, that is a significant fall from grace.
Yet, look a little closer at the attacking talent emerging across the division and the young prospects beginning to make their mark, and a different picture starts to emerge. With a new generation of talent coming through, could the Serie A be on the cusp of a resurgence? We take a closer look below.
The New Kids On The Block
If there’s one team that’s making waves across Europe, it’s undoubtedly Cesc Fabregas’s Como side. A record win against Lens in the Champions League this week saw them become the first Italian club to score nine goals in a single European match, as well as securing the largest-ever away victory in the Champions League. All eyes are on Como, Nicobar Paz and, of course, the seemingly next ‘big’ manager in Cesc Fabregas.
Here at Osservando we’ve had our eyes on Como for a while, Since their promotion back to Serie A, they have smashed the ballpark of expectations. Finishing 10th in their first season before making the most of the top teams flagging and finishing in a Champions League spot for the first time. This season, they have taken it up a notch. A famous victory against Manchester United in Europe and finding themselves fourth in Serie A. They will do well to hold on to a manager such as Cesc Fabregas. Or will they?
Fabregas has already turned down Manchester United and Chelsea in the summer just gone, and why would he leave? He has owners who back him financially to no end. The Como project is fully centred on Cesc Fabregas and the players he wants and needs. As well as owning a share in Como, it would take a monster offer for Fabregas to gain a wandering eye.
One thing is for certain, football fans across Europe have half an eye on the new kids on the block. If players like Nico Paz, Martin Baturina and Jacob Ramon stick around then there will be a serious conversation for Como to not just challenge the European spots in the Serie A, but also for the Scudetto.
Moreira, Soulé and Yildiz
Como isn’t the only side with young talent. Roma, AC Milan and Juventus, after years of mediocrity and a lack of youngsters breaking through, now have three talents you build teams around.
To those familiar with Osservando, you’ll know how much I bang the Matias Soulé drum. Article after article on the bloke and he just gets better and better. The 23-year-old has already been pivotal to Roma’s early-season success. Having scored against Manchester United and assisted twice against Real Madrid (despite losing in the final seconds), Roma are on the up and Soulé, who has already bagged eight goal involvements in 13, is key to this. Alongside other young talent like Rodrigo Mora, the Giallorossi have talent to build around. Soulé has already caught the eye of a number of English clubs, with Manchester United interested last year… but why on earth would he go there?
Most casual fans of European football have become acquainted with Kenan Yildiz. The Turkish attacker has caught the eye of a number of big clubs, such as Arsenal, in the last year. Rightfully so, he has become the main man in a Juventus team that has faltered in the league. Yildiz, however, has not. Recording double digits in both goals and assists last year, and being a complete maverick in attack, have helped haul Juventus up the table over the past few years. A broken foot has halted his season, but the 21-year-old will be back and flying very soon. Is a move to one of Europe’s elite imminent? We shall see.
Finally, Diego Moreira has revelled in his new Milan life. The winger was excellent at Strasbourg before becoming an inevitable passenger in the disastrous Chelsea project of the last few years, but the 22-year-old has found his feet at AC Milan, cementing himself with the fans with a derby-day masterclass against Inter Milan. With three goals and four assists, the Belgian, who has already featured for Belgium multiple times, will be looking to cement his place in a very strong AC Milan attack.
Moreira isn’t the only attacking talent AC Milan have this year. Tipped as a generational talent, Alphadjo Cisse, at just 20 years old, has been suggested as the next big Italian forward. My God, have Italy lacked a talent as exciting as this. Nine games and five goals: he has burst into the AC Milan attack. Signed from Hellas Verona, he became the youngest Italian to score a hat-trick in the Champions League after bagging three against Salzburg.
The talent is there, the development is there. Alongside Moreira, Pulisic and Gonçalo Ramos, the attacking midfielder has helped AC Milan go from being devoid of attacking ideas to having one of the best and most exciting front lines in Italy. Alphadjo Cisse, remember the name.
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