5 best Italian wonderkids at the moment

Italy has been at the pinnacle of world football for a very long time, a fact backed by their 4 World Cups, and a European Championship win. This continued domination at the international level has been due to their high-quality production of players from the grassroots level.

Many legends like Buffon, Bonucci, Pirlo, Totti have come out of Italy in the past decade or so and they have all been a part of the academies of Italian clubs like Juventus, Roma, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

These clubs pick young, talented kids from youth tournaments or small local clubs and then nurture and monitor their progress before bringing them onto the big stage. This process of producing quality footballers from the grassroots level to the international stage hasn't just continued over the years. It has thrived.

Here are 5 of Italy's up and coming Wonderkids:

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#5 Federico Chiesa (Midfielder/Winger, Fiorentina)

Federico Chiesa will try and better his father's career

Age: 20

When your father is a Serie A veteran with 380 games under his belt and has scored over 200 goals for teams like Lazio, Sampdoria, Parma and Fiorentina while also representing the national team 17 times, the expectations are usually high for a son to either match the father's achievements or better them.

Federico Chiesa has managed to do just that at the age of 20 by breaking into the Fiorentina first team.

At 10 years of age, Chiesa entered Fiorentina's youth setup and was called up to the U19 squad in 2014.

On 20 August 2016, Chiesa made his senior debut against Italian giants Juventus. In December, he scored his first senior goal against Azerbaijan outfit Qarabag in the Europa league.

Primarily a winger, Chiesa is an energetic, dynamic and skilful midfielder who is effective on either flank or through the middle, with an ability to burst past his marker with his rapid pace and incredible technique. Is also a good passer of the ball with a successful pass rate of 84.7%.

He still has to work on the defensive side of his game and numerous times has been guilty of losing possession. His tendency to lose himself during games and an unwanted habit of keeping his head down during dribbles are some of the things he has to sort out in his game if he wants to make it big in the game.

Chiesa has had a solid start to the 17-18 Serie A season with 2 goals and 1 assist in 11 games. After gaining a season's experience in Serie A, Chiesa's stat line has gradually improved with an increase in attempted shots(3.2), key passes(1.2), dribbles(1.4) and fouls suffered(1.8) per game.

Chiesa is an integral part of Azzurri's youth setup with a combined 18 games for their U19, U20 and U21 sides.

#4 Manuel Locatelli (Midfielder, AC Milan)

Manuel Locatelli is another wonderful product of AC Milan's academy

Age: 19

Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Castacurta, Franco Baresi were all part of the famed Rossoneri academy. All these players went on to become an integral part of AC Milan's senior squad, one such player trying to become a part of this famed group is young midfielder Manuel Locatelli, who is currently making waves with his performances in Serie A.

Locatelli started his playing career at Atlanta before Milan scooped him up in 2009 at 11 years of age. He made it to the U19 squad at the age of 16 and represented them 30 times scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists in that time.

Locatelli got promoted to the senior squad for the 15-16 season and made his senior debut on 21 April 2016 as a second-half substitute, since then he has become a regular and indispensable member of the squad making 28 appearances for Milan with 2 goals and 2 assists including the winner against Juventus.

A midfielder who prefers playing centrally, Locatelli is a defensive minded midfielder, usually given the task to shield the back four, recycle play in the midfield and initiate counter-attacks after the ball is won.

He is a very strong tackler and is extremely good in breaking up plays, is also a reliable passer of the ball with a pass completion rate of 81%. Locatelli also possesses a huge shot range, a fact which can be backed by his game winners against Sassuolo and Juventus.

Locatelli weaknesses are tied to his lack of physicality, his aerial ability is his biggest weakness, as he tends to lose most of his aerial duels. He isn't the strongest player on the field, and is bullied by stronger opposition players majority of the time. There is also room for improvement in the set piece taking department.

Due to the influx of new signings into the squad this season, Locatelli hasn't had many chances to play in the Serie A but Montella has given the youngster a go in the Europa League where in 3 appearances he has strung some impressive performances making 4 tackles and 3.3 interceptions per game while averaging 52 passes per game at a pass completion rate of 82.1%

Locatelli has been an important part of Italy's youth setup with appearances in their U15, U16, U17, U19 and U21 sides.

#3 Patrick Cutrone (Forward, AC Milan)

Patrick Cutrone has already scored 5 goals this season

Age: 19

Italy have had many quality strikers in their ranks in the past(Del Piero, Totti) and even right now (Belotti, Insigne), boast of a frightening attack force. The list looks to grow even longer with another young striker named Patrick Cutrone making a name for himself in the big leagues.

Cutrone started playing football as a child in 5-a-side leagues with local side Paradiense and started attracting the attention of scouts from the big boys in Italy, who flocked to Como to watch the young striker leave defences chasing his shadow.

Soon he was contacted by AC Milan. In 2006, at the age of 8, Cutrone signed for A.C. Milan where he through the years he climbed the ranks to make it to the U19 team at just 16 years of age. He became an integral part of the U19 squad where he made 63 appearances scoring a mammoth 43 goals and providing 6 assists.

He was promoted to Milan's first team squad in January of 2017 and made his first team debut on 21 May 2017 against Bologna as a second-half substitute. His first senior goal was against CSU Craiova in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round.

A natural striker, Cutrone is well built for his age and is tall enough for a centre-forward. Can finish with both feet, has good heading ability and can stretch opposition defences with his pace and movement. He is a well-rounded player with the right mix of physical strength, timing, technique and tactical awareness.

Cutrone's biggest weakness is the problem of fading out late in games both as a starter or as a substitute. He also needs to work on his ball holding capabilities as he lacks decision making with the ball at his feet in tight situations. Cutrone isn't gifted with blinding speed which may prove to be decisive in future even though he makes up for it with his physical attributes.

Due to the big money signings in form of Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic, Cutrone hasn't found consistent playing time in the Rossoneri first team, but he has still managed to find the back of the net 5 times in 15 games this season.

He is a regular member of the Italian youth squads with 57 appearances and 27 goals for the U15, U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 squads.

#2 Claud Adjapong (Defender, Sassuolo):

Claud Adjapong(in green) has risen to prominence rather quickly

Age: 19

Adjapong came into limelight when he was at the receiving end of some racist chants in Sassuolo's match against Lazio but he did not let that incident distract him and let his feet do the talking.

Adjapong has been a part of Sassuolo's youth setup for some time making their U19 team in the 2014-15 at the age of 16 and has made 51 appearances for them, scoring 10 goals and providing 2 assists.

Adjapong made his senior debut on 11 March 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute against Juventus. He scored his first ever senior goal on 22 December 2016 against Italian outfit Cagliari Calci. Adjapong has made 21 appearances for Sassuolo until now which consists of a solitary goal.

Primarily a right-back, Adjapong biggest strength is his versatility, he can play on the right as a full-back, wing-back, midfielder or even as an attacking winger. An attack-minded winger with tactical awareness and pace, Adjapong also possess an innate ability of breaking up plays with his high intercepting ability.

Adjapong had a solid start to the season before picking up an injury. He was in the starting lineup in 6 of the 7 games before his injury, during which time, he made 2.7 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 2 blocks per game.

Adjapong was called up to the Italian U19 squad after he received his Italian passport on his 18th birthday, He made his U21 debut in September of 2017.

#1 Moise Kean (Forward, Hellas Verona (on loan from Juventus))

Is Moise Kean the next big thing in world football?

Age: 17

Moise Kean is already making records at the age of 17, by becoming the first player born in 2000's to play in the UEFA Champions League, debut and score in one of Europe's top 5 leagues.

Kean was a part of the youth teams of Asti before moving to Torino, he represented them for 3 years before moving to Juventus, where he has been a part of their youth teams for some time with appearances for the Old Lady's U17 and U19 teams.

He made his professional debut on 19 November 2016 as a second-half substitute against Pescara. Scored his first senior goal in the final match of the 16-17 Serie A season against Bologna.

Kean is a forward who possesses a deadly combination of blistering pace and brutal power, his running, control and desire to get into box make him a nightmare for defenders. A hard-working player, Kean has been praised for his defensive contributions off the ball. He is also good in the air and wins a majority of his aerial duels.

Like all young players, Kean lacks decision-making ability when the ball is at his feet and has been accused of taking on too many defenders and losing possession in the process. He also needs to work on crossing and set piece taking ability.

He is currently on loan at Hellas Verona where he has made 10 appearances for their first team, scoring a solitary goal in those appearances.

Kean has been a regular part of Italy's youth teams for the past 2 years, making appearances for their U15, U16, U17 and U19 teams.