Thrust in at the deep end for his first-team debut at just 19 years of age against European champions Real Madrid, Nicolo Zaniolo is one to watch.
Here are five things to know about a player who could become a mainstay with Italy for years to come.
1. Arrived as part of Nainggolan transfer to Inter
When Radja Nainggolan ended his four-year spell with the Giallorossi in the summer, joining Inter for €38 million, going the other way as makeweights went a youth-team player and a back-up left-back.
Most fans are familiar with one of those — ex-Newcastle defender Davide Santon — but Zaniolo? Nainggolan is a household name in Italian football and produced his best form under Luciano Spalletti in the Italian capital.
Sacrificing a youth-team player with just seven Serie B appearances at Virtus Entella to his name is surely a no-brainer, but might Inter regret the move? In 2001, they sold Andrea Pirlo to rivals Milan and were given Drazen Brncic in return.
2. “Next Lampard, Gerrard”
Zaniolo’s former manager at Inter’s Primavera, Stefano Vecchi, had very high praise indeed for the young central midfielder.
“He will go places,” Vecchi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “He has the characteristics to become a modern mezzala [half-winger] — he’s a [Steven] Gerrard, [Frank] Lampard-type player.”
Luckily, no manager will need to fit all three in the same team.
3. Azzurri come calling
After impressing during the summer’s Under-19 European Championship, Zaniolo was called up by manager Roberto Mancini for UEFA Nations League matches against Poland and Portugal without having made a first-team appearance in Serie A. Marco Verratti, Massimo Maccarone and Raffaele Costantino are the only players to have achieved such a feat.
Zaniolo did not feature, and his call-up was seen by many as Mancini’s way of demonstrating the lack of homegrown talent at his disposal, but either way the Roma midfielder has forced his way into consideration.
4. Career revival after Fiorentina exit
Born in Tuscany, Zaniolo started his career with the biggest team in the region: Fiorentina.
He was overshadowed by the likes of Riccardo Sottil, who remains with La Viola, and allowed to leave in 2016, aged 17. Serie B side Virtus Entella were the only side ready to take a chance on him, and impressive performances led to a call-up for Italy’s U18 squad.
From there, Zaniolo regained his confidence and, at the end of the campaign, he decided to join Inter, despite interest from Juventus.
5. Figlio d’arte
Zaniolo’s father, Igor, was also a professional footballer, playing as a forward in Italy’s lower leagues for 21 years.
He started his career with Alessandria in 1992, before appearing at 16 teams across the country and retiring at Real Valdivara in 2013.
Coincidentally, Igor was born in Genoa, where Nicolo’s career took an upward turn at Virtus Entella.
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