Top 10 Emerging Talents in Italian Football Season 2022/2023

Sandro Tonali born on May 8, 2000, is a professional Italian footballer, playing as a defensive midfielder for A.C. Milan in Serie A and the Italian national team. On July 8, 2021, AC Milan officially signed Tonali on a 5-year contract. He agreed to a pay cut to join AC Milan, earning praise from fans for this noble gesture.

Tonali is considered a promising young Italian player in the media. He possesses tactical awareness, teamwork, good individual technique, positional sense, strength, creativity, excellent vision, and reading of the game. Tonali often operates as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation. He has demonstrated maturity and leadership beyond his years. Although predominantly right-footed, he is known for accurate long-range passes with both feet.

In addition to Pirlo, Tonali shares similarities with Steven Gerrard and Luka Modrić in influencing the team's overall style of play. At times, he exhibits a playing style reminiscent of Gennaro Gattuso. In July 2019, he was named by UEFA as one of the 50 promising young players to watch in the 2019–20 season. Sandro Tonali shares many similarities with Andrea Pirlo, from playing style to career trajectory, both starting at Brescia and being dubbed the new Pirlo of Italian football.

Andrea Carboni born on February 4, 2001, is a professional Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Monza. Born in Sorgono, in the province of Nuoro, he began playing football at the youth level there. At just 10 years old, he caught the attention of Gianfranco Matteoli, head of the Cagliari youth team, and signed a contract with the club.

On January 2, 2020, Carboni signed his first professional contract, a two-year deal. After impressing in the Campionato Primavera 1, Carboni was promoted to the first team in late May 2020 by coach Walter Zenga. On June 22, he made his Serie A debut, coming on as a substitute in the last minutes against SPAL. On June 30, 2022, newly promoted to Serie A, Monza announced the signing of Carboni on a 5-year contract.

Carboni is a left-footed center-back known for his passing ability, physical strength, and heading ability. A defender with an Italian style, strong and courageous play, this young talent promises to be the future of the Italian defense.

The second promising player is Giorgio Scalvini born on December 11, 2003, is a professional Italian footballer currently playing as a defender for Atalanta and the Italian national team.

Scalvini represents Italy internationally at the U21 level. He made his debut for the Italy U21 team on November 16, 2021, at the age of 17, starting in a friendly match against Romania, which Italy won 4–2 in Frosinone. On January 24, 2022, Scalvini received an invitation from Italy national team coach Roberto Mancini to join the Azzurri for a three-day training camp in Coverciano. He made his senior national team debut as a substitute in the second half in a 5–2 loss to Germany on June 14, 2022. Scalvini is a technically sound center-back with good heading ability standing at 1.95 m tall. He is also likened to Alessandro Bastoni.

Giorgio Scalvini is only halfway through his 18th year. However, this center-back has already made 16 appearances in the 2021/22 Serie A season for Atalanta and 3 appearances in other competitions. Moreover, last year, the Lombardy-born player made a double leap, playing for the Italy U19 team early in the year and then being promoted to the Italy U21 team shortly after. Scalvini's talent even surpasses his peers in the Italy U19 team. Therefore, the pillar of Atalanta's defense easily handles balls into the penalty area. In particular, his composure and excellent situational awareness are commendable qualities of the young man from Northern Italy.

Samuele Ricci born on August 21, 2001, is a professional Italian footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Torino and the Italian national team.

Ricci progressed through the Empoli youth teams and began playing for their U19s in the 2018–19 season. He made his professional debut for Empoli on September 21, 2019, at the age of 18. In the following season, coach Alessio Dionisi mainly deployed him as a central forward. On January 18, 2021, he scored his first professional goal in a 5–0 victory against Salernitana. Empoli finished the season atop the standings and was promoted to Serie A, with Ricci winning the Manlio Scopigno award as the season's best player. He was first called up to represent his country in December 2017 for a friendly match with France's U17 team. This young talent was part of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship-winning squad and played in five out of six matches.

Samuele Ricci was selected in Italy's senior squad for the 2022 final against Argentina on June 1, 2022, and for the UEFA Nations League 2022–23 group stage matches against Germany, Hungary, England, and Germany from June 4 to 14, 2022. Ricci, a right-footed player, is primarily used as an attacking midfielder or a winger. With excellent individual technique and positional awareness, he is considered one of Italy's most promising talents.

Nicolò Rovella born on December 4, 2001, is a professional Italian footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Monza, on loan from Juventus.

Rovella started his football journey at Accademia Inter, where he won the Gothia Cup before moving to Alcione in 2014. Then, in the summer of 2017, Rovella joined Genoa where he immediately won the Carlin's Boys youth championship. Progressing through the club's youth ranks, Rovella made his professional debut for Genoa on December 3, 2019, replacing Francesco Cassata in the final minutes of a 3–2 Coppa Italia victory over Ascoli. Rovella saw more playing time and started in the 2020–21 season, cementing his place as a central midfielder for Genoa as he helped the rossoblù stay in Serie A.

Rovella is a versatile right-footed midfielder who can play as a playmaker or an attacking midfielder. His strongest attributes include first touch, vision, passing ability, and tactical intelligence. Rovella is also praised for his elegant playing style and charisma.

Iyenoma Destiny Udogie born on November 28, 2002, is a professional Italian footballer currently playing as a wing-back for Udinese, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Udogie developed in the youth system of Hellas Verona, on July 15, 2021, Udogie joined Udinese on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy. In his debut season, he made 37 appearances for the club, mainly at the left-wing-back position, and scored 5 goals. On August 16, 2022, Tottenham Hotspur confirmed that they had signed Udogie on a permanent transfer until 2027, with Udogie returning to Udinese for the season.

Udogie is only 19 years old but is already one of the standout players in Serie A. Italian media believe that the Nigerian-born player will be called up by national team coach Roberto Mancini in September.

Mattia Viti born on January 24, 2002, is a professional Italian footballer currently playing as a center-back for Nice in France's Ligue 1.

After a full 2019–20 season with the Primavera, Viti made his professional debut on September 30, 2020, starting in a 2-1 Coppa Italia win against Renate. The young talent showcased his decisive role with a goal-saving block in the dying minutes. His team eventually clinched the title, returning to Italy's top flight, while the Primavera side also won the championship in the following months. Despite facing personal tragedy with the loss of his mother in November 2021, the young man has consistently excelled playing for the first team. Viti has started in several crucial victories in Serie A, against Bologna, Sassuolo, or Udinese, emerging as one of the most promising young defenders in the Italian top flight.

As a left-footed center-back with good physicality, he is seen as a technically adept defender who can launch attacks from the back, unafraid to take risks and dribble skillfully. Pressing opponents actively, he maintains good discipline, receiving no yellow cards in his first 6 months in Serie A while still performing admirably defensively. Mattia Viti ranks in the top 1% of center-backs across Europe's top 5 leagues for outstanding performance, following his first half-season in Serie A. Quickly compared to former Empoli star Daniele Rugani, his profile is often linked with one of Alessandro Bastoni. Viti looks up to Sergio Ramos and Paolo Maldini as his main sources of inspiration.

Fabiano Parisi born on November 9, 2000, is a professional Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Empoli Football Club. Fabiano Parisi is supported by Avellino fans and team members, earning the nickname 'Il Converolino di Serino'.

Parisi started playing football at Pro Irpina, based in his hometown, Serino. He was then noticed by Vigor Perconti's Roma club, where Parisi played for the 2016–17 season of the Lazio League's Allievi Élite, winning the title and reaching the finals of the 6 Scudetto. In 2017, he caught the eye of Benevento's youth department head, Simone Puleo, who was a historic captain of US Avellino. Parisi played in Campionato Primavera 2 with 18 appearances, as well as 1 in Coppa Italia Primavera and 3 in Torneo di Viareggio. In his first season, Parisi made 41 appearances helping Avellino promote back to Serie C in their first season.
Parisi subsequently signed long-term contracts for the following season. Under the guidance of head coach Ezio Capuano, he impressed with his performances, assisting and scoring goals, while being nominated as the outstanding under-19 footballer in group C, ranking seventh among all Serie C groups.

This talented 21-year-old left-back has been heavily linked with a move away from Tuscany this summer, with both Lazio and Leeds United considering moves for the Italian player. Ultimately, Parisi stayed with Empoli, giving him the time and space to continue his development.

Eddie Anthony Salcedo Mora born on October 1, 2001, is a professional Italian footballer who plays as a forward for Bari Football Club on loan from Inter Milan.

Salcedo is a product of Genoa's youth academy. On August 20, 2017, at the age of 15, he made his senior debut in Serie A. On July 16, 2018, Salcedo joined Inter Milan on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent. He played with Inter's U19 team in Campionato Primavera 1 and UEFA Youth League. The deal was made permanent on June 19, 2019, for a fee of 8 million euros. On September 1, 2022, Salcedo moved to Bari on loan with a purchase option. With the Italy U19 team, he participated in the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

Salcedo made his debut for Italy U21 on September 3, 2020, in a friendly match against Slovenia, winning 2-1. This young forward promises to be a gem in Italy's attacking lineup in the future, with what Salcedo has shown, there is no reason to hinder him from reaching the pinnacle of football.

Federico Chiesa, born on October 25, 1997, is a professional Italian footballer who plays as a winger for Juventus Football Club in Serie A and the Italy national team.

Chiesa joined Juventus in 2020 after shining for Fiorentina. He excelled right in his first season and emerged as a star after the explosive Euro 2021. After 61 appearances for the Old Lady, Chiesa contributed 18 goals and 14 assists, an impressive figure considering he wasn't initially seen as the main goal scorer. Juventus' leadership identified Chiesa as the next icon of the team. Last May, they splashed 40 million euros to trigger his buyout clause from Fiorentina.

Becoming the core of both Juventus and Italy's gameplay after just one season is what caused Chiesa's value to nearly double to 115 million USD. Meanwhile, Wallabies and the football research organization CIES valued Chiesa at 85 million USD and 100 million USD respectively. Chiesa's value is predicted to rise sharply in the future if he maintains his stellar form for Juventus and the Italian national team.