Francesco Camarda: Will the Milan teenager become Italy’s next great striker?

Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito, 20, is being praised, having scored his first goal for Italy against Estonia last week, but another name is generating controversy – Francesco Camarda, a player three years younger and perhaps even more destructive.

Together, they could become the attacking partnership that defines the future of the Azzurri.

At the age of 17 years, six months and 18 days, Camarda scored his first Serie A goal against Bologna in September, becoming the youngest player in Lecce’s history to do so – the Milan striker sent south to gain experience on loan under Eusebio Di Francesco.

With this goal before the international break, he broke another record in his remarkably early career.

Camarda had already made history on 25 November 2023, when he came on late in Milan’s match against Fiorentina.

Under Stefano Pioli, he became the youngest player to make his debut in Serie A. The Italian Football Federation granted Milan special dispensation to allow Camarda to play at just 15 years, eight months and 13 days, as regulations do not allow players under 16 to participate in Serie A.

He was also the youngest player to appear for Milan, breaking the record held by legendary defender Paolo Maldini.

The following season, under Paulo Fonseca, he made his Champions League debut against Club Brugge – with a goal disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) – becoming Milan’s youngest player and Italy’s youngest player to participate in the competition at 16 years and 226 days.

This week, he also became the youngest Italian to ever score for the national under-21 team. Making his debut for the Azzurrini against Sweden in a European Championship qualifier, the 17-year-old scored from a cheeky Panenka penalty.

He showed all his qualities – his composure, his foot speed, his strength on the ball, his cool temperament in front of goal.

“Sometimes, when he drops deep, he still looks lethargic technically, but inside the box he is a phenomenon,” said coach Massimiliano Favo, who led the Italy Under-17 team to victory at the 2024 European Championship, where Camarda was their main striker.

“His ability to find the right position, handle the ball and his rawness when shooting are things I have never seen before in anyone his age.”