Three Young Talents Making a Name for Themselves in Serie A

Serie A is not typically the first league that comes to mind when talking about young talents. Historically, the Italian league has been one that is more likely to develop young talent slowly. However, something seems to be changing, as at the beginning of this season, three young twenty-year-olds have already captured our hearts.

Nicolò Pisilli – Roma, born in 2004

At the end of the summer, Roma sold Edoardo Bove to Fiorentina. His departure upset the fan base, especially those attached to players who grew up locally. However, the club had already identified a young player capable of taking his place in Roma’s midfield rotation. Nicolò Pisilli entered the starting eleven with Daniele De Rossi in Genoa and was confirmed by Juric a week later. In both De Rossi’s 3-man midfield and his successor's slightly more hybrid setup, Pisilli played a similar midfield role, closer to the attacking third. He is a pure Mezzala who plays with an offensive mindset. Pisilli has showcased dynamism, intensity, strength in 1v1 duels, and above all, excellent technical precision. He surprised many with his ability to win second balls, execute quick dribbles in tight spaces, and accelerate Roma’s game.

His presence on the pitch and his vertical plays have increased the team’s pace – a team that is not very dynamic but seeks to play more aggressively this season. During his long tenure in Roma’s youth academy and with the Italian national teams, Pisilli also demonstrated an ability to be effective in front of goal through his runs into the penalty area and his positioning. This is a quality that has so far remained hidden but promises to come out in future matches.

In a football world where dynamic and technically gifted players are needed in midfield duels, Pisilli – despite his boyish look and lean physique – seems ready to make a difference.

Reda Belahyane – Hellas Verona, born in 2004

When watching a Hellas Verona match, Reda Belahyane is the player who immediately catches your eye. Short in stature, with low socks and his head held high, it’s striking to see him dominate midfield despite being so small and young. Yet he plays with the boldness typical of a twenty-year-old and the skill of a street footballer. According to Wyscout data, he completes more than two dribbles per ninety minutes – a lot for a central midfielder who carries the ball in risky areas.

Having grown up at OGC Nice, Belahyane arrived last January as the latest discovery of Sporting Director Sean Sogliano, who has been doing miracles at Hellas Verona. He played little last season, but this year – with Paolo Zanetti on the bench – he has become pivotal in midfield. A surprisingly tough player in defensive duels (ranking in the top 15 in Serie A according to Wyscout), Belahyane is able to dribble in tight spaces and has remarkable vertical vision. It’s hard to find a midfielder with that kind of personality at twenty, who remains calm and clear-headed even in his own box under pressure, sometimes even pulling off backheel passes. Zanetti has already expressed concern that some teams might target him in the near future.

Saba Goglichidze – Empoli, born in 2004

After five matches in the league, Empoli has yet to lose a game: 9 points from two wins and three draws. It’s hard to beat Roberto D’Aversa’s team, mainly due to their disciplined defensive phase. Empoli has only conceded 2 goals in 5 matches, making them the second-best defense in the league, behind the near-perfect Juventus. One of their secrets is surely Saba Goglichidze, a 20-year-old Georgian center-back whom Empoli signed from Torpedo Kutaisi in January 2024. Last year, he was able to settle in with the youth team.

As the right-sided defender in a 3-man defense, Goglichidze uses his aggressiveness to press directly on the man. He is strong in one-on-one duels and headers, standing over 1.90 meters tall. He already moves quite cleverly, using his hands a lot to apply pressure on his direct opponent. According to Wyscout data, he ranks 18th in Serie A for defensive duels and wins over 70% of them, a very high average.

With the ball at his feet, he’s not always the most refined, but that seems to be more a confidence issue, which will improve with experience. After all, Empoli doesn’t practice a particularly sophisticated build-up from the back, and Goglichidze isn’t afraid to play long passes whenever possible. Coach D’Aversa has said that he’s playing “like a veteran.”

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