Francesco Camarda: Will AC Milan teenager become Italy’s next great striker?
Inter Milan’s 20-year-old striker Francesco Pio Esposito is rightly praised and scored his first goal for Italy against Estonia last week, but another name is making the rounds: Francesco Camarda, three years younger and potentially a more devastating player.
Together they could become the strike partnership that defines the Azzurri’s future.
Aged 17 years, 6 months and 18 days, Camarda scored his first Serie A goal against Bologna in September, becoming the youngest player in Lecce history to do so. The AC Milan striker was sent south for Eusebio di Francesco’s loan experience.
With this goal he scored before the international break, he broke another record in his career, which developed very early.
Camarda made history when he came on as a substitute late in Milan’s match against Fiorentina on November 25, 2023.
He became the youngest player to make his Serie A debut under the management of Stefano Pioli. The Italian Football Federation granted Milan a special exemption allowing Camarda to play for only 15 years, eight months and 13 days because regulations do not allow players under the age of 16 to feature in the senior league.
He also became the youngest player to play for Milan, breaking the record of legendary defender Paolo Maldini.
The following season, under Paulo Fonseca, he made his Champions League debut against Club Brugge – with a goal scored by the video assistant referee (VAR) – becoming Milan and Italy’s youngest player to play in that competition, at the age of 16 years and 226 days.
This week he also became the youngest Italian to score a goal for the under-21 national team. The 17-year-old scored a cheeky penalty against Panenka in the Azzurrini’s first match against Sweden in the European Championship qualifiers.
This displayed all his qualities; His composure, quick feet, power on the ball and an icy temperament in front of goal.
“He still looks technically a little raw sometimes when he drops deep, but he is a phenomenon in the penalty area,” said coach Massimiliano Favo, who led Italy Under-17s to victory at the 2024 European Championship with Camarda as their main striker.
“His ability to find the right spot and control the ball and his ruthlessness in shooting are things I’ve never seen in anyone his age.”
