Francesco Camarda: The Rising Star of Italian Football
Francesco Pio Esposito, a 20-year-old striker for Inter Milan, is receiving significant praise after scoring his first goal for Italy against Estonia last week. However, another name is rapidly gaining attention: 17-year-old Francesco Camarda, who shows the potential to be even more impactful.
Together, Esposito and Camarda could form a dynamic strike partnership that shapes the future of the Azzurri.
At just 17 years, six months, and 18 days old, Camarda made history by scoring his first Serie A goal against Bologna in September, becoming the youngest player in Lecce's history to achieve this feat. Currently on loan at Lecce from AC Milan, he is gaining valuable experience under coach Eusebio di Francesco.
Before the international break, Camarda set another record. On November 25, 2023, he debuted in Serie A during a match for Milan against Fiorentina, becoming the youngest player to ever do so. The Italian Football Association granted a special exemption for him to play at the age of just 15 years, eight months, and 13 days, as regulations typically prohibit players under 16 from competing in the top tier.
Additionally, Camarda became the youngest player to represent AC Milan, surpassing the record previously held by legendary defender Paolo Maldini.
In the following season, he made his Champions League debut against Club Brugge, where a goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR). At 16 years and 226 days, he became the youngest player to feature in the competition for both Milan and Italy.
Recently, he also made headlines as the youngest Italian to score for the under-21 national team. During his debut against Sweden in a European Championship qualifier, the 17-year-old netted a cheeky Panenka penalty, highlighting his composure, agility, and cold-bloodedness in front of goal.
Massimiliano Favo, the manager who led Italy's Under-17s to victory at the 2024 European Championship, remarked, "Sometimes, when he drops deep, he still looks a bit raw technically, but inside the box, he’s a phenomenon. His ability to find the right position, handle the ball, and his ruthlessness when shooting are unparalleled for someone his age."
In that tournament, despite being younger than most of his teammates, Camarda scored four goals, including two in the final against Portugal and the decisive penalty against England in the quarter-finals, earning both the trophy and the player of the tournament award.
Favo noted, "His hunger and the respect he earns from his teammates are his greatest strengths, even more than his natural scoring instinct; he lives for goals."
Camarda, who has consistently played alongside older teammates, has been recognized as a prodigy in Italy for several years. AC Milan, his boyhood club since he was seven, has been careful to shield him from excessive attention, allowing his talent to speak for itself.
Angelo Carbone, the former head of Milan's youth academy, recalled, "You could tell right away he was different. His awareness and quick thinking stood out. The first time I saw him was at a seven-a-side trial; he played with incredible simplicity—direct, effective play, and decisions beyond his years."
Camarda's confidence is further underscored by a message from former AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. After Camarda's first Serie A goal, Ibrahimovic shared an old message from 2019 in which the young player introduced himself as "a Milan striker."
Reflecting on this, Camarda said, "When I messaged Ibra, I was only 10. I admired him a lot, and I still do. He’s a player I’ve learned so much from."
With a tattoo of the San Siro’s Curva Sud on his right arm, Camarda appears to manage the immense expectations placed on him with remarkable composure. "Honestly, I don’t think about it much. People say I’m destined for greatness—I don’t. I just focus on the present, trying to enjoy myself and give my best for both club and country. I try to block out the noise because in the end, the pitch speaks for itself," he explained.
Having scored over 500 goals in youth football, Camarda maintains a close relationship with his parents, who relocated from the Milan area to Lecce to support his development.
Recognizing his potential, AC Milan has secured his future, fending off interest from clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Manchester City by signing him to a contract until 2028.
Carbone recalled, "I remember when, at 16, we called him up for the under-18s to play a friendly against the first team. He was marked by Fikayo Tomori and scored right away. [Milan technical director] Maldini, who was observing, immediately requested the Milan Channel cameras be turned off—Camarda wasn’t under contract yet, and he didn’t want foreign clubs to notice him."
Looking ahead, Favo predicts, "Maybe not right away, but in a few years, he’ll be a top player. Francesco has all the qualities to become a key figure for Italian football. Will it happen? We can’t say yet, but he certainly has everything it takes. He still needs to continue his development, though—he’s still just a 17-year-old kid."
In his second match for Italy Under-21s against Armenia, Camarda added two more goals to his tally. For now, fans of both Milan and Italy can only watch, wait, and dream of how high this young talent can soar.