Let’s keep this very international break series going with the next five in this list. As a reminder, I’m basing my rankings on what I’ve seen from these guys, often at youth level or in preseason, and those games don’t always translate to the senior game. It’s all extrapolation and it’s all fluid. Any of these guys could have a good couple games and raise their profile substantially. I’m ignoring anyone under 18 because it’s weird to talk about literal children as employees. As a reminder, growth
isn’t linear et cetera and also these guys are very young and trying to beat massive odds. Be nice.
10. Luca Montenegro (Dolomiti)
The 19-year-old midfielder joined the Primavera last year from Ternana and quickly established himself as a regular. He’s a good passer and has the requisite quickness. I was a little disappointed that he went to a Serie C club and had hoped he could aim a little higher but he’s started almost every game for the Rosaverdi and is ticking along nicely.
2026-2027 goals: Prove that he’s ready for Serie B right now.
Beyond that: To paraphrase Fran Fraschilla, he’s probably a year away from being a year away from the first team. He doesn’t have a single standout trait or talent so developing a specialty, likely as a midfield metronome who covers a lot of ground, will go a long way towards helping everyone figure out just what he’s going to be.
9. Salvatore Cianciulli (Primavera)
At 18, he’s just starting to put it together. He got his first call-up to the senior sided against Sassuolo and has impressed with the Primavera so far. He relishes the physical side of the game and loves getting into tackles but has the technical ability to be more than a pure midfield destroyer at youth level and a notably strong mentality, as noted by his role as penalty taker for Aurelio Andreazzoli’s boys. He signed professional terms in August so it’s clear that the club brass is impressed by him.
2026-2027 goals: Become the linchpin of the Primavera midfield and maybe earn a loan move in January to get a taste of the grownup game.
Beyond that: He doesn’t quite have the mental mastery over the youth game that Alessandro Bianco did but there’s something about Cianciulli that recalls Al White to me. That’s not a bad upside at all, especially if Cianciulli can avoid stagnating as Bianco did. He might get a look in preseason next year but his time is yet to come.
8. Lapo Deli (Empoli)
The 20-year-old Florence native has earned a rotation spot for the noisy neighbors, playing regular minutes as a substitute. He hasn’t managed to string together any particularly impressive performances but he’s playing regularly in the second tier and that’s not nothing for a kid taking his first steps in the senior game. I think he’s more of a water carrier than a playmaker and that type of player often takes a little while to fully bloom; tactical intelligence and work rate are harder to notice than nifty touches and stunning goals. Even if he never develops the skill set that gets fans on their feet, I think Deli’s got the look of a long-time pro.
2026-2027 goals: Elbow the other guys out of the way for a starting job.
Beyond that: Empoli’s got an option but Fiorentina’s got a buyback so we won’t know his fate until this summer. My take is that he needs a bit more patience than flashier players but that’s not a luxury that every player receives.
7. Maat Daniel Caprini (Cesena)
The 20-year-old winger’s got rare physical gifts. He’s fast and strong and combines that with pretty good dribbling ability. He’s got the stuff you can’t teach and that makes him a tantalizing prospect. Because he’s so good physically, he’s relied on that, perhaps at the expense of developing the mental side of his game, as evidenced by his goalless stint at Mantova last year. Caprini missed the start of the year injured and is easing himself back into action but needs to provide some sort of end product to match his talent.
2026-2027 goals: A starting job and regular contributions on the score sheet.
Beyond that: This is another option-and-a-buyback situation. My worry is that Caprini is on the Riccardo Sottil Trail (repetitive cycle of injuries, flashes of brilliance, and long stretches of underperformance). I’m not out on Maat Daniel by any stretch and if he shows a pulse this year, he could get a look in preseason this summer.
6. Tommaso Rubino (Carrarese)
The 20-year-old trequartista is making it work in his second go-round at Carrarese. He’s at 3 goals already this season after finding the back of the net in 3 straight games and that’s established him as a favorite in Carrara, although he’s still splitting time with Luka Topalović up front. He’s a creative passer and works hard and, if he can add some strength, could be a real player sooner rather than later. I’ve been high on him for the past few years so it’s nice to see him finally burst into glorious bloom.
2026-2027 goals: Take over that starting role and keep on scoring.
Beyond that: With a good performance, he’ll be one of the most intriguing guys to watch in preseason next year. It’s hard to project growth but my guess is that he needs another loan, this time to Serie A, before he’s ready for the Viola spotlight. He’s got a very good chance to stick around, though, if he keeps producing the goods.
