From Mattia Destro to Mario Balotelli, even the harshest of Inter’s critics will struggle to deny the club has produced some fine players.
Although very few find their way into the first team, the Nerazzurri continue to give youngsters the best opportunities to do so. As the Italians look to reproduce the magic 2009-10 season in the near future, it is important that they are able to recruit from within their own youth system.
Here are the five most likely players to gain promotion in the coming years.
Federico Bonazzoli – 16 – Striker
At the tender age of 16, Federico Bonazzoli is one of the youngest players in Inter’s Primavera. For someone to come this close to the first team at his age shows just what a precocious young player he is. In the matches he’s played this season Bonazzoli has scored 12 goals, making him the Primavera’s top scorer alongside Lorenzo Tassi. Bonazzoli has proven to be a gifted finisher with excellent close control in the penalty area.
Born in the footballing-loving city of Brescia, Bonazzoli arrived at Inter in 2008. Since then he’s developed a reputation for becoming a poacher of goals, earning comparisons to Christian Vieri and Giampaolo Pazzini. In April 2013 he trained with the first team just shy of his 16th birthday.
He made a brief cameo appearance for the Nerazzurri in the Coppa Italia fixture against Trapani earlier in the season, replacing Ishak Belfodil in the 83rd minute.
His progress with Inter has seen him earn a call-up to the Italian Under-17 squad, where he’s continued to dazzle and represent his club side. He is known for being quite wasteful in possession and prefers to receive the ball in the penalty areas, where he looks to make space for himself with a body feint or by cutting inside before unleashing his shot. In this regard, Bonazzoli is showing signs of becoming an accomplished goal-getter, something Inter could do with at the moment.
Reno Piscopo – 15 – Forward
Perhaps more well known in his home town of Melbourne then he is in Italy, Reno Piscopo is one of few Australians to get the chance to play for a European giant. Dubbed the new Harry Kewell, the 15 year-0ld currently plays for Italy’s Under-15’s but has yet to fully commit, with the Australia national team beckoning him to represent the country of his bi
rth.
Born in 1998, he started playing football aged five and later joined Melbourne Phoenix, a product of the Genova International School of Soccer. He caught the eye of Inter scouts during a tour of Italy after he scored eight goals in five games. After several stints in Italy playing with Roma and Vicenza, he joined the Nerazzurri and began the rigorous pre-season training.
Piscopo is most comfortable playing up front but his slight frame has seen him deployed out wide on several occasions. He’s demonstrated good technical abilities and great athleticism during his short time in Italy, but he’s needed to improve other aspects of his game that were otherwise not taught in Australia.
While he is unlikely to force his way into the first team at this stage, it should be noted that Inter tend to promote only the very best players from their academy. Mario Balotelli is perhaps the best example as his performances in the Primavera simply could not be ignored by the first team staff. With this in mind, Piscopo will need to adapt to Italian football very quickly and get the edge on his competitors if he wants to make his debut at the San Siro.
Isaac Donkor – 18 – Full-back/Central defender
Already a recognisable name amongst Interisti, Issac Donkor has been turning heads for his commitment and sheer determination which, ultimately, could see him break into the first team.
The Ghanaian joined Inter from Padova in 2010 and became one of the high achievers in his age group. As he developed he was given more responsibility as he matured; moving from right-back to centre-back over time.
As he became more adept in the heart of the defense, he joined the age group above him and the process repeated itself. He soon joined the Primavera aged just 17.
Donkor made his competitive debut for Inter in the Europa League against Rubin Kazan, replacing Andrea Ranocchia in the 73rd minute.
Playing in a three-man defense as a central defender, Donkor was tasked with nullifying the threat of Jose Rondon, who scored twice in the final minutes of the game. There’s no doubting the fact Inter had placed plenty of responsibility on Donkor, but upon reflection, it may have been a bit too early to field the youngster in a European competition.
With this in mind, there is still plenty of time for Donkor to adapt to what is a very challenging introduction to competitive football. Currently, Inter play in a formation that allows full-backs to occupy wider positions further up the field. With three central defenders guarding the goal, Donkor will have more of a license to go forward and more importantly play his own game free of overbearing pressure.
With time and the proper physical application, Donkor could become a central defender, but at five foot nine inches he should be focusing on a lighter defensive role, but it is imperative that he gets regular first team opportunities. Space could open up for the Ghanain once Chelsea’s Wallace returns to Stamford Bridge.
Ivica Ivusic – 19 – Goalkeeper
Perhaps the most likely to make Inter’s first team squad, Ivusic follows in a long line of promising goalkeepers who have graduated from the Primavera.
In the wake of Andrea Stamaccioni’s successful tenure as Inter’s Primavera coach, a vast majority of those under the Italian’s tutelage were loaned out for experience. So profound was this exodus, that none of the 2011-12 NextGen series finalists are at Inter at the moment. Raffaele Di Gennaro was first choice goalkeeper, and now in his place comes Ivica Ivusic, who already was receiving plenty of comparisons to a fellow Balkan ‘keeper from the youth academy, Vid Belec.
It should be clear to most that Inter are not only proficient in the development of goalkeepers but also benefit from producing them at breakneck speed. Ivusic is simply the next to come off the production line.
Already representing Croatia at under-19 level, Ivusic joined Inter in 2009 and began working among the professionals; one of which was Julio Cesar, whom Ivusic professes to idolize. Since the beginning of the season, the 19 year-old has played for Inter’s Primavera, often sharing the position with Padova loanee Luca Maniero.
Quick off his line, safe hands and strong palms have all helped Ivusic maintain his standing in the Primavera up till now. He needs to continue developing at the rate he is, which will probably require him to go out on loan.
Although his chances of ousting Samir Handanovic in goal are remote, he could get into the first team by default when Luca Castellazzi departs. By sacrificing his first team chances, Ivusic could be handed chances in Coppa Italia fixtures and his patience could see him pip his various rivals on loan from the club.
Morten Knudsen – 18 – Central Midfielder
A promising young midfield player with a very brief window of opportunity to prove himself, Morten Knudsen needs to knuckle down if he wants to prolong his stay in Milan.
Formerly of the Midtjylland youth academy, the young Dane has relied heavily on his natural ability to get him to where he is now. From a young age he showed promise, with a trial at Chelsea the pick of his early achievements. After impressing for Midtylland he was called up for Denmark’s Under-16s, where he continued to improve and climb the national youth team ladder.
He excelled in the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, showing off his wide passing range and combing well with his teammates.
He’s spent much of his career playing side-by-side with a midfield partner, both occupying defensive roles and sharing responsibility when one decides to burst forward. Like many of the best midfielders, Knudsen will look to get a feel for his opposition before actively joining in the attack, ensuring he does his share of the defensive work.
He joined Inter for €500,000 in 2013 and began playing with the club’s Primavera team. His performances have been consistent and at times fantastic, but he still needs to learn a lot, particularly on a tactical level. If he can apply himself and learn from his mentors, he shouldn’t have a problem slotting into the Inter first team.
A loan move would not be as advantageous for Knudsen compared to other members of the Primavera, as his development revolves around his adaption to Italian football, whilst a majority of his peers have grown up with this coaching. If first team football can not be secured at Inter, then the Primavera is just as good for now.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
