Milan have recently put an emphasis on youth which has helped several young players grow including Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessio Romagnoli.
By: Gino Fornaro.
One of these young players is Davide Di Molfetta who has played a key role for Milan’s primavera and the Italy U-19 team. Last season, he was able to break into the first team under Filippo Inzaghi. In 2015, he was loaned to Lega Pro side Benevento where he currently plies his trade. It’s now a good a time as any for him to prove that he’s capable of playing at a higher level.
One of the key reasons that Milan enjoyed great success in the late 80’s and early 90’s was due to the club’s ability to produce homegrown talents. With many key figures including the likes of Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Demetrio Albertini all coming from Milan’s youth academy, the rossoneri were able to dominate both Italian and European football. Although Mihajlovic’s side has failed to successfully implement young players into the first team in the past decade, they have still been able to produce talents by promoting young players like Mattia De Sciglio, Hachim Mastour and Davide Calabria to the first team. In addition, Milan have helped start the careers of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Darmian. One player that has caught the eye of Milan supporters and the first team is 19-year-old David Di Molfetta, who is set to one day be a major asset for the team.
What you need to know:
Name: David Di Molfetta
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: 23 June, 1996 (19 years old)
Nationality: Italy
Current Club: Benevento (on loan from A.C Milan)
Height: 1.76 m
International Caps: Italy U-16 (6, 1 goal), U-17 (13), U-18 (1), U-19 (4, 1 goal)
Who is Di Molfetta?
Born in Sesto San Giovanni, a suburb in Milan, Di Molfetta started playing football at a local amateur club named Rondinella. By the age of 10, Di Molfetta was spotted by Milan scouts and joined the club’s youth system. Gradually rising through various levels in the youth team, Di Molfetta eventually joined the Allevi Nazionale side in 2012/2013 season, which was coached by Milan legend, Filippo Inzaghi. Under Inzaghi, Di Molfetta flourished and quickly was promoted to the Primavera side at the tender age of 16. The following season, Di Molfetta was reunited with manager Filippo Inzaghi, becoming a key figure for the Primavera side, making a total of 17 appearances, scoring eight goals and registering one assist. In the 2014/2015 season, Di Molfetta made his professional debut against Atalanta in a 3-1 away win. He ended the season with a respectable tally of 14 goals and one assist in 28 appearances for the Primavera.
Due to his impressive performances with Milan’s Primavera, Di Molfetta was called up to the Italy U-16 side, where he scored his first goal on the international stage. Di Molfetta was then called up to the U-17 team, where he featured alongside fellow Milan youth players Luca Vido, Michael Fabbro and Ivan De Santis. He went on to play a key role in helping Italy qualify for the 2014 U-17 World Cup. However, Di Molfetta suffered two severe injuries early in the season, which prevented him from taking part in the tournament. After a total of 13 appearances with the U-17 team, Di Molfetta joined the U-19 team where he scored one goal in four appearances.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Di Molfetta embodies all the qualities of a modern day striker. He’s fast and is more than capable of beating his man on the dribble which has propelled him to be one of the Primavera’s best strikers. Moreover, Di Molfetta’s game doesn’t only rely on goals. The 19-year-old is able to influence a game with his vision and leadership skills, as well. He has been given the famous number 10 jersey by the team, highlighting his vast potential. Di Molfetta has also proved to be a hard-working player and dedicated to the team. Demonstrating a great range of versatility by playing in a wide range of positions including secondary striker, attacking midfielder and on both wings, Di Molfetta has shown that he can be a star in the future.
Although Di Molfetta possesses many strengths, his physique has hindered him at times. Due to his slim figure and modest height, Di Molfetta struggles against larger opposition, which he will encounter at a senior level. Another weakness that has stunted Di Molfetta’s progress are injuries. While he did not suffer any major injuries last season, he had two recurring hamstring and muscle injuries, which might indicate that he is prone to injuries.
2015-2016 and Beyond:
Di Molfetta’s loan move to Lega Pro side Benevento shows that Milan see potential in him and want him to gain experience at the professional level. However, this upcoming season is crucial for his chances of one day playing in Serie A. Di Molfetta has to demonstrate that he can make the step up to the next level and find the back of the net with regularity. Otherwise, he might join the likes of other promising players like Alberto Masi who are forgotten and have been left to play in the lower divisions. If Di Molfetta is able to prove himself at Benevento, it would pave his way to join a Serie B side or possibly a newly-promoted Serie A side. Di Molfetta also has the potential to play a key role in the U-21 side and fill the void left by Domenico Berardi, once he is called up to the senior squad. Overall, Di Molfetta is a promising youngster who has the potential to be a star player for both A.C Milan and the Italian National Team. Even if Milan’s youth project has been under intense scrutiny in recent times, players like Gianluigi Donnarumma and Di Molfetta prove that the rossoneri are making strides forward in this respect.
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