AC Milan to hand debut to 15-year-old scoring sensation

23 Nov 2023 12:30 GMT
3 min read

Francesco Camarda, AC Milan — © ProShots

Milan could hand a debut to 15-year-old sensation Francesco Camarda this weekend with the striker reportedly being considered for a call up to the senior squad for the Serie A game against Fiorentina.

Camarda has attracted attention for his prolific goalscoring record at youth level, which has seen the teenager netting a staggering 483 goals in 87 games for Milan’s junior sides between 2017 and 2020.

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This season he has been playing above his age category with Milan’s under-19s team, contributing seven goals and two assists in 13 games with the Primavera.

Camarda has also scored three goals in three games in the UEFA Youth League, with his brace against Newcastle making him the youngest Italian ever to score in the tournament at the age of just 15 years and 195 days.

Milan manager Stefano Pioli is dealing with a number of issues to his senior strikers after Olivier Giroud was sent off against Lecce, leaving him suspended for the next two games.

Noah Okafor also picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with Switzerland leaving Luka Jovic as the only available striker to Pioli, meaning Camarda could be called up to the bench for the first time.

Camarda on the cusp of Serie A history

The youngest player to ever feature in Serie A is Wisdom Amey, who made his debut for Bologna aged 15 years and 274 days in 2021.

Camarda could beat Amey’s record by a matter of days if he features against Fiorentina and would easily become Milan’s youngest ever player, eclipsing Paolo Maldini, who made his debut at age 16 in 1985.

Should Camarda achieve a fairytale start to his career by scoring this weekend, he would also become the youngest goalscorer ahead of Amedeo Amadei, who made history in 1937 when he netted for Roma aged 15 years and nine months.

Camarda is also set to be handed a professional contract when he turns 16 in March, with Milan looking to ward off interest from teams already looking to sign the youngster.