The definitive list to the best young talent in the Italian Serie A.
Part I looks at the young players who have established themselves as Serie A regulars.
With the new season just around the corner and a mere six weeks separating us from opening day kickoff, Arjblog highlights the next generation of young players - all 22 and under:
Alexis Sanchez - Udinese / Barcelona - Serie A's most exciting half-winger, the Chilean sensation uses blistering pace, clever runs, excellent close control and powerful shooting to rip opponents apart. At the time of writing, Barcelona are in the process of completing a 26 million pound transfer. Sanchez is the complete package whose 12 goals and 8 assists got his club into Europe's main competition.
Javier Pastore - Palermo - The Jewel in the Sicilian crown, the Argentine attacking midfielder, winger and striker is the bed rock on which the pink shirts' offence is built. Coming into his prime now, at 22, Pastore played 35 games last season, starting 34, with 11 goals, 5 assists and an inimitable, languid, yet elegant style. One of Serie A's brightest talents.
Alexandre Pato - Milan - Still only 21, Pato's best years are ahead of him and he is already a starting striker at both club and international level. 14 goals in Serie A last season were the latest return in what will eventually be a long and successful career for Milan, one in which he has already hit 50 goals in just over a 100 games, along with six goals in 16 for Brazil.
Kwadwo Asamoah - Udinese - Arguably Serie A's best defensive midfielder, the mini-Essien that is Asamoah has established himself firmly in the Udinese midfield with his take no prisoners, tough-tackling and all action running style. A starter last season he played more than anyone else for the barcodes, notching a pair of goals and six assists.
Philippe Coutinho - Inter - The curly haired Brazilian midfielder had a great breakthrough season with starts under both Rafa Benitez and then Leonardo. At 19, 13 games and eight starts are very impressive especially at a treble winning club with loads of depth all over the park. Should be sent out on loan this season where he merits a full season playing for a top half Serie A club.
Ezequiel Schelotto - Atalanta / Cesena / Catania - After an excellent season on loan at first Cesena last season, where along with Davide Santon, he helped the promoted club stay up with an impressive 15th place finish; the Argentine born, Italian U-21 international acquired the number 7 shirt for the latter half of the season, on loan at Catania (where he will be this season as well). In total he played 31 times for his two loan clubs last season, as an everpresent down the wing.
Davide Santon - Inter / Cesena - An excellent loan season at Cesena, where he distinguished himself on the left side of defence, made national team coach Cesare Prandelli notice and draft him in to the squad for friendlies. Just. 20, he has already played nine times for Italy and registered over 50 Serie A appearances. Should become Inter's long term left back.
Adem Ljajic - Fiorentina - After a move to Manchester United broke down, Ljajic picked himself up to record a memorable season in the violet of Fiorentina. After moving from Partizan, Ljajic played 35 times for the Viola last season scoring thrice with four assists. Pacy and tricky down the right side of midfield, the 21 year old is a sparkling gem at the Artemio Franchi where he should emulate legend Rui Costa as a premier attacking midfielder.
Armin Bacinovic, Ezequiel Munoz, Abel Hernandez - Palermo - While not quite the same as German Champions Borussia Dortmund, Palermo's squad has been retooled and rebuilt around youth with a hint of Latin flair mixed in with Eastern European technique amongst their multicultural corps. The above trio are all 21 and younger and started over 80% of the league games while racking up more than 6500 minutes of playing time and scoring 6 goals with five assists. Among the three musketeers, Slovene Bacinovic is the midfielder, Uruguayan Hernandez is the attacker and Argentine Munoz, the defender. With Pastore in harness as well, Palermo's 8th place finish was built on the exploits of their youth.
Federico Casarini - Bologna - the 21 year old midfielder played 34 times for the Rossoblu last season, starting 21 games in the middle of the park. Dependable and hardworking, Casarini typifies the Roberto Donadoni style roving midfielder one finds up and down the peninsula. A Serie A regular, he should earn a call up for the national team soon, having played for Italy at all age groups.
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