Federico Piazza

from www.channel4.com

Arsenal monitor Milan starlet --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arsenal are pondering a move for another of Italian football’s bright young things – Milan teenager Federico Piazza.

After robbing the Italian game of Arturo Lupoli, who left Parma for Highbury in July 2004, they now have their eyes on the Rossoneri midfielder.

Piazza is highly regarded in the Italian game and is currently seducing scouts at the annual Viareggio youth team tournament in Tuscany.

Although Milan understandably want to keep him on their books, a number of clubs are ready to take advantage of his current contractual situation.

The playmaker has yet to sign a professional contract with the Italian giants which means he would actually be available on a free transfer.

Arsenal, according to reports in the peninsula on Thursday, are understood to be assessing a move for the 18-year-old.

Premiership rivals Chelsea, as well as a host of Italian clubs, also have the youngster’s name on their assessment lists.



surely milan should be able to fend off interest from inferior clubs like arsenal. anyone know anything about him; how good is he? is he likely to sign a professional contract with us or will he leave?

Good question almilan...somehow I tend to agree..I dont see Milan selling their potential starlets. I am sure we (ie Milan) will offer him a pro contract before the season is out...(ie before the transfer window opens in the summer)..any move for him before that is illegal (I think)

Anyone have anything further on this guy?

Who is he?

Any one have more info on him? cox i never hear bout him. that good new on him

we should make these arsenal scouts an offer they can't refuse

The only way to keep our own youngsters at this club is to give them chances to show what they can do at the highest level at an earlier age. Our problem is that our young players is loaned out to other clubs until they are 24. And then they come back and dont know what it's like to be at a club of Milan's calibre.

English clubs, and also spanish at a certain degree, is much better than italians in this area. So actually it's understandable that some of Ital'y brightest talents go elsewhere. Like Lupoli at Arsenal and Rossi at Manchester United.

Double post

Originally Posted by Arildonardo

The only way to keep our own youngsters at this club is to give them chances to show what they can do at the highest level at an earlier age. Our problem is that our young players is loaned out to other clubs until they are 24. And then they come back and dont know what it's like to be at a club of Milan's calibre.

English clubs, and also spanish at a certain degree, is much better than italians in this area. So actually it's understandable that some of Ital'y brightest talents go elsewhere. Like Lupoli at Arsenal and Rossi at Manchester United.

Perfect point, buddy. And since we seem to 'hate' talented youngsters, I really don't doubt that Arsenal can 'steal' the mentioned player from us. Damn, why don't we give him an opportunity to play for the main squad?!? We don't have nothing to loose and eventually much to gain: if the guy is really good, fine, we can count with a new talent; if he fails to impress us, we let him go, and that's done.

OK, so you would put Pirlo in the bench just to show you don't "hate" talented youngsters...

Good question almilan...somehow I tend to agree..I dont see Milan selling their potential starlets. I am sure we (ie Milan) will offer him a pro contract before the season is out...(ie before the transfer window opens in the summer)..any move for him before that is illegal (I think)

I dont think its illegal if he is 18 already, as Rossi and Lupoli moved at 17.

Milan are clearly a bigger team than Arsenal but the incentive for young players is obvious, unless they are of Maldini's talent they are very unlikely to become Milan regulars until there early 20s. They only have to look at the likes of Fabregas, who has made 100 appearances for Arsenal and is still only 18

i think it could be good if Milan bring him on as a sub against small teams. We useto do it alot with aliyu and donadel.

I agree with others, i think it is hard to introduce young players (unless they are maldinis) into the squad, and loaning youth players out doesnt always work.... Milan has to invest more into the youth system, if possible have the same system as parma? .....

i agre.. i dont think its as easy at it looks to field youngsters because unlike in england... other teams in italy can take advantage of the slightest of disadvantages we have... however... i tihnk we played marzoratti last season, and he got positive results over his performance (vs palermo i think) ... what bothers me is... since we seem so desperate this season on the RB spot?? wouldnt it be the perfect time to play him??

seems like its a situation to keep an eye on, its been awhile since someone has come up through our youth ranks. if they are good enough they are old enough in my opinion but in fairness to carletto and past managers no one from our youth ranks who didnt get the chance to play for us has set the footballing world alight at other clubs for example aliyu and donati.

hopefully if piazza has what it takes that he will stay at milan

While a "Maldini" type of youth team product is scarce, we should be quick as an organisation to ensure that those that come even close to that potential, are given an opportunity to shine at the highest level.

It is intresting to note what will happen to Rui next season, if Piazza stays with us.

In my version of Milan, we would keep Rui on for one season, allowing him time to mentor the young Piazza, while Carlo (or who ever is coaching) eases the youngster into a few Cup games, or matches that we are winning comfortably.

If Rui does leave, then we have Kaka´s sub ready made. There is no way we should allow Arsenal to get him...unless its a loan deal...

i dont think its as easy at it looks to field youngsters because unlike in england... other teams in italy can take advantage of the slightest of disadvantages we have

unlike in England? Arsenal have been punished repeatedly because of their over reliance on youth(look how many times they have lost this season !), Utd have underperformed over the past few seasons too, because with the exception of Rooney none of the other youngsters have the physique and consistency to match their ability.

Fielding youngsters is a risk in any of the major leagues, and fielding as many as Arsenal have been doing is near suicidal in the short term. The idea is that if you get the youngsters together early enough, and give them seasons to develop, by the time they are in their mid twenties they are ready to play at the highest level and can stay there for a decade. This is how teams that operate to budgets work

Milan operate more from the Bayern and Chelsea school, only the very best of their youth products will survive, the rest of the team is expensively assembled. That way is fine as long as you have either A) a monopoly on domestic talent like Bayern or B) a very generous benefactor who doesnt mind spending the occasional million. As long as Berlu is content to back Milan financially there will be little need for a youth team, and talented youngsters will sometimes be overlooked.