Vladimirov to Pandolfi: Five Milan Futuro talents to keep an eye on this season
AC Milan are sitting on some interesting names in their academy, all of which could follow in the footsteps of Francesco Camarda and Davide Bartesaghi.
The appointment of Ruben Amorim, as well as the overall shift in strategy, has confirmed that AC Milan are looking to focus more on their own products. The decision to keep the likes of Francesco Camarda and Alphadjo Cisse this summer was a further testament to that.
That said, and as highlighted by Gazzetta dello Sport, there are still many Milan talents who haven’t been given the chance on the big stage yet. From Valeri Vladimirov to Fabio Pandolfi, there are quite a few to keep an eye on in the coming year(s).
Valeri Vladimirov
We got to see a little bit of the 18-year-old centre-back during the summer pre-season and he earned a call-up to the Bulgarian national team for this break. So far this season, he has only played for the Futuro, but Amorim is keeping an eye on him.
“We have young defenders who need to play. We won’t solve everything in the first transfer window of my AC Milan career. You might be surprised by some players,” he said a while back.
It’s possible the upcoming tight schedule could result in a first call-up to the first team for Vladimirov, with seven games scheduled in just 20 days (one every 2.8 days!). At least what we saw during the pre-season, he wasn’t so uncomfortable with the age difference.
Silvano Vos
Vos might sound like a strange name to throw into the mix, especially since he arrived at the club two years ago now. Then, there were high expectations and after the first appearance for the Futuro, he was deemed ‘out of this league’ (in Serie C) along with Alex Jimenez.
The two have since taken very different paths in their careers, with the Spaniard achieving success at the highest level. However, all is not lost for Vos, who has recovered from injury struggles and is currently being given a second chance in Sergio Navarro’s side.
The Dutchman, aged 21, has returned the favour by scoring two goals and getting one assist in his first three Serie D appearances this season. Much of the credit also goes to coach Sergio Navarro, who is working closely with the midfielder, especially on his well-being.
Lorenzo Ossola
Ossola was also seen in pre-season, just like Vladimirov, and there was even talk of him remaining with the first team for a brief period. However, as one of the captains of Milan Futuro, it’s good that he is continuing his development in Serie D.
The left-footed attacking midfielder has scored three goals so far this season, immediately making his mark, and he will play a crucial role in the Futuro’s promotion hopes. The fact that he’s left-footed as well makes him a bit more ‘rare’.
It’s difficult to imagine a starting spot, or even a bench cameo, for the first team this season though. As he’s such an important player for the Futuro, Navarro won’t want to give him away just for a few minutes on the big stage.
Emanuele Sala
Sala is a name that most Milan fans will recognise, as he’s been called up for quite a few pre-seasons with the first team at this point (and some friendlies). He has spent 13 years at Milan and in the most recent Futuro clash, he wore the captain’s armband.
He’s still only 18 years old, which says a lot about how early he got the chance with the first team, and he has proved capable of playing in several roles: defensive midfield, midfield, or attacking midfield. His physique is also striking at 1.90 meters tall and with good strength despite a lanky appearance.
He already has one season in Serie D under his belt, with 27 appearances, four goals, and three assists. This season, Sala has been a starter in three of the four games and Navarro considers him essential for the Futuro.
Fabio Pandolfi
Pandolfi has been talked about quite a lot in the last week or so, having scored the winner late on for the Futuro against Villa Valle. At 18 years old, he plays in midfield and has quickly become a bit of a fan favourite among those who watch Milan’s Serie D side.
As the pink newspaper continues, Pandolfi has three football idols and inspirations: Andrea Pirlo, Luka Modric, and Samuele Ricci. He joined the Rossoneri academy at the age of four and has worked his way up the ranks from there.
Last season, he played with the Primavera after being promoted from the U17, and he earned yet another promotion for this season. One of his main strengths is the ability to dictate the tempo of the game, which is a very desirable trait.
