Tag: azzurri

Shining Stars: The Under 23 prospects to look out for this season in Serie A
When I was growing up, Serie A was all about the biggest names, the biggest price tags and the biggest reputations. Now, that mantle has passed to the Premier League and as a cynical 30-something year old, I’m bored of all that. What gets me interested in football now is seeing academy graduates make it through. Watching them tentatively replace a bigger name in the 80th minute and then remembering that moment 4 years later when Liverpool pay €80m for him to sit on their bench.

So I’ve done a deep dive, with the help of some Googling and some podcast listening – and here’s who to look out for this season breaking through into Serie A, and some Serie A players who broke through last season who I expect to make an impact this time around…

Francesco Camarda (CF, Lecce on loan from AC Milan)
- Age: 17
- Nationality: Italian
- Height: 1.89m
Profile: A prodigious striker who became the youngest player in Serie A history when he debuted for Milan aged just 15 years and 260 days. Camarda is a generational youth prospect, having scored over 400 goals at youth level and drawing comparisons to a young Erling Haaland due to his size, finishing instinct, and movement.

Tactical Analysis: Camarda excels in the box, using intelligent movement to escape defenders and make runs across the front line. He’s composed in 1v1 situations and has an advanced sense of space. He can operate as a lone striker in a 4-3-3 or as part of a front two in a 3-5-2, where his ability to combine and occupy centre-backs becomes even more dangerous.

Outlook 2025/26: Loaned to Lecce to gain first-team experience. Expect him to be eased in gradually but could finish the season as a starter. Key focus will be on how he adapts to the physicality of senior defenders.

Francesco Pio Esposito (CF, Inter)
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Italian
- Height: 1.88m
Profile: The younger brother of Salvatore Esposito, Francesco Pio is carving out a name for himself as one of Italy’s most promising centre-forwards. Developed in Inter’s academy, he spent last season on loan at Spezia in Serie B, showing flashes of maturity, aggression, and technical development. He has represented Italy at every youth level and was impressive in Inter’s short Club World Cup campaign this summer.

Tactical Analysis: Esposito is a physically robust striker who plays with his back to goal exceptionally well. He’s strong in the air, holds up play to bring others in, and presses defenders with real intensity — making him a natural fit for teams playing a high-energy, vertical style. Technically tidy, with solid link-up play, he thrives when partnered with a more mobile or creative second striker.

Outlook 2025/26:
Inter have opted to retain Esposito rather than loan him out again, despite interest from Serie A clubs and even Premier League teams. Signed to a new contract through 30 June 2030, he’s expected to be part of the senior squad in Chivu’s rotation system. While he may not start every match, Esposito is almost certain to feature as an impact sub or rotational starter, particularly in Coppa Italia and midweek fixtures.

Nicolò Savona (RB/FB, Juventus)
- Age: 22
- Nationality: Italian
- Height: 1.92m
Profile: A tall, elegant full-back who rose through the Juventus ranks and began earning minutes under Thiago Motta. He is known for his intelligent positioning, clean tackling, and comfort on the ball.

Tactical Analysis: Savona operates primarily as a right-back but has the tactical intelligence to play in an inverted full-back role. He contributes to build-up by stepping into midfield, offering an outlet in possession, and helping to compress space in transitions. His aerial ability also provides an asset in defending set-pieces.

Outlook 2025/26: May not be around much longer in Serie A with the Premier League circling. I would fancy him to get plenty of minutes if he stays. Unfortunately with English clubs already interested, any stay would be very brief.

Aaron Ciammaglichella (CM, Torino)
- Age: 20
- Nationality: Italian
Profile: A product of Torino’s youth academy, Ciammaglichella is a highly rated central midfielder who has been compared stylistically to Lorenzo Pellegrini. He is part of Italy’s U20 setup and has been identified as a future national team player.

Tactical Analysis: A box-to-box midfielder who thrives in high-tempo matches. He presses aggressively, tracks back reliably, and has the passing range to play progressive balls. Capable of operating in a double pivot or as the advanced midfielder in a 4-2-3-1.

Outlook 2025/26: Torino are expected to hand him more consistent minutes off the bench, with the potential to become a starter in the second half of the season depending on injuries or tactical changes.

Giovanni Leoni (CB, Parma)
- Age: 18
- Nationality: Italian
Profile: A highly mature centre-back for his age, Leoni impressed with Parma and has seamlessly stepped up to Serie A level. Juventus and Inter have shown interest.

Tactical Analysis: Leoni is a modern centre-back: aggressive in duels, confident in possession, and adept at playing line-breaking passes. He reads danger early and positions himself smartly in a high defensive line. Particularly effective in a three-man defence where he can cover wide spaces.

Outlook 2025/26: Expected to start regularly for Parma if he’s still there come 23rd August. If Inter can offload some players it’s widely expected he’ll be playing there next season. Expect to see an Azzurri call up for friendly squads.

Simone Pafundi (AM/Winger, Udinese)
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Italian
Profile: Once dubbed the “Italian Messi” in youth circles, Pafundi has been a regular fixture in Italy’s youth teams and is slowly being integrated into Udinese’s first team. Despite his small stature, he boasts incredible flair and agility.

Tactical Analysis: Pafundi thrives in the left half-space, where he can drive at defenders and pick out passes between the lines. He’s best used as a roaming attacking midfielder or wide playmaker. Relies on quick feet, vision, and anticipation rather than physicality.

Outlook 2025/26: A make-or-break season. Needs consistent playing time and end-product to secure a long-term role in Udinese’s project or attract interest from bigger Serie A sides.

Lorenzo Venturino (RW, Genoa)

Screenshot
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Italian
Profile: Emerged at the back end of the 2024/25 season, scoring twice in Genoa’s final game. Fast-tracked through the academy, Venturino is one of Italy’s most explosive young wingers.

Tactical Analysis: Direct and pacey, Venturino is dangerous in 1v1s. He hugs the touchline and beats defenders with acceleration before cutting inside to shoot. Can also play off the left to utilise his stronger right foot.

Outlook 2025/26: Expected to be a regular feature off the bench, with growing responsibilities depending on his ability to deliver goals and assists in limited minutes.

Lorenzo Anghelè (CF, Juventus Next Gen)
- Age: 20
- Nationality: Italian
Profile: A sharp and mobile striker with a knack for finding space in the box. He scored regularly in Serie C and was rewarded with a senior debut last season.

Tactical Analysis: Anghelè is a classic poacher with intelligent positioning. He’s quick across short distances and capable of linking play with one-touch combinations. Best suited to a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 alongside a physical partner.

Outlook 2025/26: Likely to split time between Juventus Next Gen and sporadic first-team appearances. Could push for more minutes if injuries or squad rotation open a window, especially if they can’t get Kolo Muani over the line

As Serie A enters the 2025/26 season, the spotlight won’t just be on the usual title contenders or big-name signings — it will shine just as brightly on the emerging talents poised to shape the league’s future. From Camarda’s goal-scoring instincts to Leoni’s composure at the back, this new wave of Italian prospects reflects a league rediscovering its identity through youth development. Keep a close eye on these players — they might not just break through, but break out in a big way. The future of Calcio is already here — and it’s looking brighter than ever.
7th Aug 2025
Grande Torino: The Glory, The Tragedy, The Legacy
In the grand tapestry of football history, few teams have left a mark as deep and as enduring as the Grande Torino. They were more than a club — they were an idea, a movement, and, tragically, a legend forged not only through triumph, but through heartbreak.

A Team Reborn: Post-War Ambition

Torino FC had tasted success before — winning their first Scudetto in 1928 — but it was in the 1940s, under the presidency of Ferruccio Novo, that the club’s destiny changed forever. Novo was not your typical football president – visionary and methodical, he approached the game with a modern sensibility. He studied the systems used in England and brought a scientific, professional approach to Torino.

Ferruccio Novo

He appointed a backroom staff that included tactical specialists, fitness trainers, and scouts. Most crucially, he built a team not just of stars, but of perfectly complementary talents. Between 1942 and 1949, he assembled what would become the most dominant team in Italian history — Grande Torino.

Building the Machine

At the heart of it all was Valentino Mazzola, signed from Venezia in 1942. Mazzola was not only a footballer of rare technical skill and intelligence, he was also a natural leader — the type of captain who could inspire, intimidate, and elevate those around him. Whether playing as a mezzala or inside forward, his impact was immense.

Mazzola’s iconic gesture — rolling up his sleeves during a match — became a symbol that the team was about to turn up the intensity. Fans knew what came next: movement, power and a storm of goals.

Surrounding Mazzola was an ensemble cast of brilliant players:
- Ezio Loik, his partner from Venezia, brought dynamism and strength in midfield.
- Guglielmo Gabetto, a former Juventus striker, added flair and finishing.
- Romeo Menti, Franco Ossola, and Pietro Ferraris contributed relentless pace and creativity on the flanks.
- At the back, defenders like Aldo Ballarin, Mario Rigamonti, and the elegant Virgilio Maroso held firm.
- And in goal, the reliable and acrobatic Valerio Bacigalupo.
Each player had a specific role within a meticulously drilled system. The team played a WM formation with flexibility, pressing high, rotating positions, and attacking in waves. Their short passing, positional awareness, and relentless tempo overwhelmed opponents. They didn’t just win matches — they dictated the way football was played.

The early representatives of Grande Torino

An Era of Total Domination

From 1943 to 1949, Torino won five consecutive Serie A titles (excluding the 1944 wartime championship, which was played under unique conditions). Their dominance bordered on the ridiculous:
- In the 1947–48 season, they scored 125 goals in 40 matches.
- They went unbeaten at home for nearly six years at the Stadio Filadelfia.
- Their average margin of victory was often three or four goals.
- In 1947, 10 of the 11 starters for Italy’s national team were Torino players.
No club before or since has exerted such influence on the national side. Italy played like Torino. Their style became the blueprint for modern Italian football: disciplined yet daring, structured yet expressive.

Grande Torino were admired, feared, and loved — not only in Turin, but across Italy. After years of fascism, war, and suffering, this team offered a vision of something pure, joyful, and aspirational.

Torino in 1948-49. before tragedy would strike the team

Lisbon, Benfica, and the Final Flight

In early May 1949, Grande Torino travelled to Lisbon to play a friendly match against Benfica, a testimonial for Portuguese captain Francisco Ferreira. Despite fatigue and injuries, the players insisted on going — honouring both friendship and the game they loved so much.

They flew back home on May 4, 1949, aboard a Fiat G.212 aircraft. As the plane approached Turin, it encountered thick fog and poor visibility. The pilots, believing they were on the correct approach path, tragically miscalculated.

At 5:05 PM, the aircraft crashed into the rear wall of the Basilica of Superga, perched on a hilltop just outside the city.

All 31 passengers on board died instantly — including 18 players, all of the coaching staff, club officials, three journalists, and the flight crew.

The Memorial at Superga

Italy Mourns

The aftermath of the Superga air disaster was a national tragedy, over half a million people filled the streets of Turin for the funeral procession. Men wept openly, newspapers halted regular coverage, radio stations played only classical music. Even fierce rivals paid tribute – Juventus, Inter and Milan all stood united in mourning.

Torino’s youth team, made up of reserves and Primavera players, completed the final four matches of the season. Out of respect, their opponents also fielded youth squads. Torino won the league and were awarded the title — their fifth consecutive Scudetto.

A Legacy That Endures

The loss of Grande Torino deeply affected Italian football. The national team, which had been built almost entirely around Torino’s players, suffered a sharp decline. When Italy travelled to Brazil for the 1950 World Cup, they did so by ship, so traumatised were they by the idea of flying.

It would take decades for Torino to recover as a club. They would win a Scudetto again in 1976, and sporadically challenge for trophies but Grande Torino was unrepeatable.

Yet their legacy remains immortal. Each year, on May 4, Torino players, staff, and supporters climb the hill to Superga Basilica. There, overlooking the city they once thrilled, they remember — not just the tragedy, but the glory.

The plaque reads:
“Gli eroi sono sempre immortali agli occhi di chi in essi crede.”
“Heroes are always immortal in the eyes of those who believe in them.”

Why Grande Torino Still Matters

Grande Torino were not only the best football team of their era — they represented something greater. In a country emerging from dictatorship and war, they were symbols of unity, modernity, and belief. Their style of play laid the foundation for future generations. Their professionalism, spirit, and sacrifice continue to inspire.

In the end, they were not defined by how their story ended — but by how brightly they shone while they lived.
6th Aug 2025