Francesco Camarda has not just made the news for his AC Milan debut, but also his impressive goals with the Primavera in the UEFA Youth League as well as the league. In the meantime, the Rossoneri are planning his journey to the first team.
All eyes have been on Camarda in the last few months, becoming the youngest Serie A debutant at 15 years and 260 days back in November. And while a lot of big clubs are monitoring his situation, Milan already have a clear plan in mind.
As highlighted by our colleagues at SempreMilan.it, the youngster has also impressed heavily under Ignazio Abate’s guidance in the Primavera side. He scored an absolute wondergoal against PSG in the UEFA Youth League, as well as a world-class strike against Cagliari just last weekend.
Milan’s low-profile strategy for Camarda
Milan, as you would expect and as is right, have adopted the strategy of maintaining a low profile and trying to dim the spotlight for Camarda. A spotlight that the youngster continues to put on himself with the great performances.
Of course, this is a way to guarantee him a healthy growth path, without fueling cumbersome expectations that would risk burning him out and also attracting the attention of other clubs. Then again, the Rossoneri can only ‘hide’ his talent as much.
The debut with the first team was deserved but also the result of an injury crisis, and the truth is that Milan perhaps would have liked to wait a bit longer. Simply because they know what a huge talent they have on their hands, one that can be the striker for the future, and also for the Italian national team.
Renewal will be signed in March
Given that big clubs are monitoring the situation of Camarda, Milan and the head of the youth sector Vincenzo Vergine are already working on the professional contract. It will be signed in March, when Camarda turns 16 and thus can sign his first professional agreement.
It should be a generous three-year offer which will lock the then 16-year-old down until he turns 19. Three years is the maximum length for a player of Camarda’s age, and Milan will have to wait until he turns 18 before a longer agreement can be signed.
Milan’s strategy, therefore, is to proceed with small steps, guaranteeing Camarda a slow and healthy growth that will allow him to reach the first team permanently after a proper apprenticeship in the youth sector.
Okay, perhaps giving him the debut at such a young age was not exactly proceeding with small steps, but it was also a way for the Rossoneri to express their confidence in the player. And it’s an action that indeed meant a lot to the youngster.
Camarda has no intention of leaving
The Milan management is keen on making Camarda the prime example of their successful academy work in the last few years. In short, they have no intention of letting the youngster leave and the player himself is very happy at the club, being a boyhood Milan fan.
After making his debut with the team, Camarda expressed his gratitude to Milan: “What can I say… it was something unique that I will never forget. It’s really true that ‘since I was little I fell in love with you, my heart beated, don’t ask me why!’ Well, today I know why! I discovered that I have a second home and the best thing is that they are all people like me! I love you, thank you!”.
Of course, he referenced a well-known Curva Sud chant with his quotes, showing once again just how much he loves the club. Even though he has attracted interest from other clubs, therefore, he doesn’t want to leave especially now that the Rossoneri want to invest in him.
I’ve not engaged with the hype about him. But it’s hard not to get exited about him. The goal the last day reminds me of Van Basten
This is the strategy. We basically marinate our youth and not let them integrate into the first team so we can sign them in the cheap and resell while buying average players.
Yeah cause you want to take the risk of him ending up like Pellegri? Let him start regularly and improve his numbers with the Primavera, then we can integrate him into the first team.
The next Totti