Historically known for being a shut-in and tough footballing nation, Italy has never had issues with producing a constant stream of class defenders. One of the latest to emerge is the new AC Milan man Alessio Romagnoli. A giallorossi academy product, big things are expected from a youngster labeled as “the second coming of Nesta”.
What you need to know:
Name: Alessio Romagnoli
Date of Birth: 12.01.1995 (age 20)
Position: Central defender
Nationality: Italy
Current club: AC Milan
International Caps: U-16 (3), U-17 (6), U-19 (12), U-21 (11)
Who is Romagnoli?
Moving through the youth setup at Roma, Alessio Romagnoli started turning heads as a teenager, making a name for himself both in his club’s primavera setup and as a Azzurrini youth international. His talents eventually earned him a call up to professional football, and in December of 2012, at 17 years of age, he made his senior debut against AC Milan. Although he did not feature much that season, his next became Romagnoli’s breakout campaign. Under the tutelage of new coach Rudi Garcia, Romagnoli made nearly a dozen appearances, becoming a key player in the second half of Roma’s season in the process. Put into the left-back position following an injury to regular starter Dodo, his inspired performances eventually led him to bench the Brazilian and help his team finish second, qualifying for Champions League football for the first time since 2010.
For the 2014-2015 season, Romagnoli was sent on loan to Sampdoria in order to get guaranteed playing time, as well as to develop his skills as a central defender, which was not done much while playing for Roma. Immediately thrusted into the blucerchiati first team setup, he forged a marvellous partnership with Sampdoria captain Daniele Gastaldello. This defensive pairing was one of the highlights of a Sampdoria that for the first half of the season looked like serious Champions League qualification contenders. Showcasing the cliche Italian grit while growing under the mentorship of Gastaldello, Romagnoli’s abilities grew exponentially as he gained valuable Serie A experience.
At the international level, Romagnoli’s talents were noticed quite early. Just a few weeks after his 16th birthday, he was given a spot on the Italian under-16 team, making his debut in February of 2011. Moving quickly through the levels of the Azzurri youth ranks, he was a staple of the U-19 side under manager Alberto Evani. After a number of successful international matches combined with his Roma performances, he was awarded a lucrative place in Luigi Di Bagio’s under-21 Azzurrini. To date, he has played eleven matches. He has yet to make his full Italy debut but that will come in time for the 20-year old.
Strengths and weaknesses
Romagnoli is an extremely versatile defender, just as at home playing in the center as on the left, depending on what is required from him. Adept at distributing the ball from deep in his own territory, many Milan counter attacks have started with Romagnoli winning back the ball and playing an accurate pass to a waiting teammate. However, there is more to the 20-year-old than pretty passes. When the need arises, Romagnoli is more than able to produce a crunching tackle to save what would have been a certain goal or muscle an enemy forward off the ball. He is not afraid to go in strong and get cautioned, if it means helping the Rossoneri.
Moreover, Romagnoli’s sky-high potential and young age means he could become a staple in the Milan defensive unit for years to come. Never failing to show up in big matches, some of his best performances ironically came against his parent club Roma last season, from who Sampdoria took four points in two matches. Already displaying wisdom well beyond his years, the comparisons to Alessandro Nesta may not be too far-fetched. Fortunately this maturity does not come at the expense of his youthful vigor, and if anything, it lends a hand in controlling potential outbursts of frustration and disappointment. In nearly 60 professional matches, he has received a sending off just once, which came against Napoli this season.
His only major weakness, if you could call it that, is his inexperience. Romagnoli has completed one full professional season as a starter with Sampdoria last season. Despite being asked to anchor the Milan defense thus far, he has responded extremely well and has looked confident throughout for new manager Siniša Mihajlović who handpicked him as his primary target this past summer.
What’s in store?
If all goes well, Alessio Romagnoli has over 15 years of professional football ahead of him. With the world at his feet, continued growth as a player will pave the way for highly successful career. Romagnoli signed a 5 year deal with AC Milan worth €25 million this past summer and in just 12 league matches, Milan has already begun to get their money’s worth as he has been everything they could have asked for in pursuit of a strengthened defense.
The Italy U-21 star defender’s versatility and knack for adapting to changed tactics has enabled him to win over the hearts of the Milan supporters. While he has yet to earn the call-up to the senior squad for the Azzurri, it’s clear that all signs point to him being a staple for his country in the near future.
The future is bright for one of Italy’s premier defensive talents.
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