Sadly for Calcio fans, the days when the Italian top flight was the main attraction for global stars are long gone now, as Serie A currently trails behind other major European leagues, most evidently the English Premier League.
Nevertheless, this has never prevented Italian clubs from introducing new stars to the scene every season, whether they’re young up-and-coming prospects, or unsung journeymen searching for a bright spot. So let’s take a look at the Top 15 Serie A revelations discovered during the course of the 2022/23 campaign.
Honorable Mentions:
Due to the plethora of players who emerged to the scene, we weren’t able to include all the revelations within the Top 15 list, so let’s begin by enlisting the honorable mentions (while thanking my colleague Enrico Passarella for his help in this regard):
Jaka Bijol (Udinese), Sandi Lovric (Udinese), Lazar Samardzic (Udinese), Josh Doig (Verona), Joan Gonzalez (Lecce), Leonardo Sernicola (Cremonese), Emanuele Valeri (Cremonese), Isak Hien (Verona).
15. Luca D’Andrea (Sassuolo)
Despite the departures of Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca last summer, Sassuolo remain the home of some of the most exciting young talent in Italian football, and chief among them is Luca D’Andrea.
Last October, the winger carved himself a place in Calcio‘s archive by becoming the first player born in 2004 to provide an assist in Serie A.
Afterwards, he lost some of his momentum, prompting the club to slow down his rise and allow him to develop skills with the Primavera squad, away from all the limelight.
14. Samuel Iling-Junior (Juventus)
Last summer, Samuel Iling-Junior earned a promotion from Juve’s Primavera to the club’s Next Gen squad which competes in Serie C. However, his time with Massimo Brambilla’s side proved to be extremely brief, as he suddenly found himself featuring for Massimiliano Allegri’s first team by October.
When a major injury crisis struck the Bianconeri’s senior squad, the winger made the most of his opportunity, delivering exceptional back-to-back performances in his cameos against Benfica and Lecce.
13. Federico Baschirotto (Lecce)
While the majority of the list is comprised of youngsters, there’s always room for slightly older revelations in Serie A. After all, the league always had its fair share of late bloomers.
This season, Federico Baschirotto has been a rock at the back for Lecce. The ever-present defender started all 18 rounds of the campaign thus far, and even contributed with two goals.
At the age of 26, the center-back is finally making a name for himself on the big stage, and perhaps some of the league’s more prestigious sides will pay heed to his displays.
12. Patrick Ciurria (Monza)
After spending the majority of his career in Serie B, Patrick Ciurria has announced his arrival to the top-tier with some fabulous displays, including the historic upset victory over Juventus last September and the more recent draw against Inter.
With two assists and four goals to his name already, it’s difficult not to notice the sudden rise of the 27-year-old winger.
11. Cristian Volpato (Roma)
Although he’s yet to cement himself as a regular starter at José Mourinho’s court, the fact that Cristian Volpato is gradually earning himself some playing time in a star-studded club like Roma is a significant accomplishment on its own.
In October, the 19-year-old entered the pitch in the second half and guided the Giallorossi towards victory in Verona with a personal goal and assist.
10. Koni De Winter (Empoli)
Although some Juventus fans would argue that Koni De Winter had already been one of last season’s revelations, the young Belgian hardly every featured in Serie A until this term (after joining Empoli on loan).
Although he doesn’t feature in every match for Paolo Zanetti’s team, the young defender has managed to impress on almost every opportunity granted, and perhaps a big future awaits him in Turin.
9. Lewis Ferguson (Bologna)
Now surely Marko Arnautovic remains the ultimate attraction at Bologna, but Lewis Ferguson has swiftly won the hearts of the Emilian supporters with his gutsy and generous displays.
The 23-year-old Scotsman can feature in a variety of positions in the middle of the park, and has already found the back of the net on three occasions in his 12 Serie A appearances.
We widely expect him to become the Rossoblu’s next breakout star who rapidly departs for a significant windfall (following the likes of Arthur Theate and Aaron Hickey).
8. Emil Holm (Spezia)
While we usually tend to prevent ourselves from likening a young player to a renowned star, it has to be said that Emil Holm is the second coming of former Lazio and Juventus right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, and perhaps with a slightly better technique. Even more eerily, the Spezia man has the same determined, no-nonsense look upon his face as the one famously sported by the retired Swiss.
This season, the 22-year-old is thriving as a wingback in Luca Gotti’s formation, exhibiting his prowess on both ends of the pitch, while inevitably earning himself some suitors, including Juventus.
7. Michele Di Gregorio (Monza)
Following their maiden promotion to Serie A, Monza invested in several experienced players who can help the club maintain a spot among the elite, with one of the newcomers being Alessio Cragno.
But unfortunately for the former Cagliari goalkeeper, he found an unpleasant surprise awaiting him in the form of Michele Di Gregorio. The Inter youth product has been on a spectacular form since the start of the Serie A campaign, while confidently warding off the competition from Cragno.
6. Jakub Kiwior (Spezia)
The big defender has been a part of Spezia’s squad since last season, mostly featuring as a defensive midfielder under the tutelage of Thiago Motta. But he only managed to take his game up a notch when Gotti reinstalled him in his natural position at the back.
The 22-year-old also displayed his prowess with the Polish national team in Qatar 2022. The sky is the limit for the ever-improving center-back.
5. Lorenzo Colombo (Lecce)
While Stefano Pioli’s squad isn’t represented on the list, Lorenzo Colombo has been showcasing his vast talent this season while on loan at Lecce, making Milan fans wonder if he would have been a better alternative for disappointing summer signing Divock Origi.
The 19-year-old striker has already scored four Serie A goals, including a jaw-dropping long-range effort against Napoli.
4. Tommaso Baldanzi (Empoli)
It wouldn’t be a revelations list without a couple of entrees from the De Facto Serie A factory talent otherwise known as Empoli.
At the tender age of 19, the attacking midfielder has already rose through the club’s ranks to become a regular starter in Zanetti’s formation, and has already scored thrice in the league.
Undoubtedly, a major bidding war will ensue for his services, sooner rather than later.
3. Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus)
In what has been a strange campaign for the Italian giants, the youth uprising is one of the scarce bright lights at Juventus this season. While Fabio Miretti was the poster boy of the movement last term, it seems that Nicolò Fagioli has usurped his younger teammate to become a regular feature in Allegri’s starting formation.
The 21-year-old made his bones last campaign at Cremonese, and is now confirming his immense promise by carving himself a place at the expense of some renowned players.
2. Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta)
Just when you think Atalanta are running out of steam, the management can always pull a rabbit out of the hat, even if he’s 191cm tall.
With Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel seemingly on the decline, La Dea’s form took a hit recently, until the timely emergence of 19-year-old Rasmus Hojlund.
The young man possesses everything you’d hope for in a striker: strength, pace, dribbling skills and an instinctive knack for goals.
1. Kvhicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
With all due respect to all the brilliant aforementioned individuals, this man is from another planet. The 21-year-old is a cheat code of a winger who’s leading Napoli’s charge towards their first Scudetto triumph in more than three decades.
When the Georgian first landed in southern Italy, few persons managed to pronounce his name, while even fewer had imagined that he’ll surpass Lorenzo Insigne’s status in such a swift and empathic fashion.
But with seven goals and nine assists in his first 15 Serie A appearances, Kvara isn’t just the biggest revelation in Italy this term, but arguably in entirety of the Old Continent.
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