Serie A breakout stars of the 2024/2025 season
Serie A has been one of the most competitive leagues in the world in the last few seasons, and a new trend among teams in the competition is that they generally favour using younger players.
Previously, Italian teams focused on experienced players and often struggled to get players through the ranks.
However, with Juventus starting their Next Gen team, the view on youth development has dramatically changed in the top flight.
The Next Gen team serves as a B-team to the senior squad, and most U19 players the club signs are sent there for further development.
Those who do well at that level are promoted to the senior team, with Kenan Yildiz and Nicolo Savona among those to gain promotions.
In this article, we discuss some of the breakout stars from the Italian top flight this season.
Benjamín Domínguez, 21, Bologna
In recent seasons, Bologna has become one of the smartest clubs in Italian football, and one reason for that is how it recruits players for its team.
They often find talents that most clubs do not see, and one of them is Dominguez, a winger they spotted on Gimnasia LP and brought him to Europe. He was one of their key men last term, with 28 appearances in all competitions.
Santiago Castro, 20, Bologna
Although Castro moved to Bologna at the start of last year, it was this season that he got enough game time and showed he is a terrific player.
It is easy to see why many fans bought Bologna tickets to watch them last term, and he is one of the most scouted players on their squad.
His ten goals and eight assists in all competitions last season are great for a 20-year-old.
Jeff Ekhator, 18, Genoa
Ekhator is one of the beneficiaries of Patrick Vieira's becoming Genoa's manager this term. He was given his debut and several minutes.
The 18-year-old is clearly not the finished article just yet, but he is certainly a player to follow because he will have a great career in the game.
Matías Soulé, 22, AS Roma
Soule was in great form on loan at Frosinone in the 2023/2024 season, which earned him a move to AS Roma, but there were still doubts about him shining at a bigger club after not breaking into the Juve team.
The winger found joy working under Claudio Ranieri and ended the season as one of the players who made fans buy AS Roma tickets.
Nicolo Savona, 22, Juventus
Savona’s debut is one of the best things that Thiago Motta gave Juve, and the youngster is set for a long career at the club.
Andrea Cambiaso is arguably the best full-back at the club, but Savona’s fitness and consistency make him an underrated member of that back-four.
He only debuted this term, but supporters who bought Juventus tickets watched him play 37 competitive games in his debut campaign.
Samuel Mbangula, 21, Juventus
Mbangula was another surprise inclusion in Thiago Motta’s first starting XI as a Juventus manager in Serie A.
The winger did not seem close to a first-team breakthrough at the start of 2024, but after Motta got rid of some veterans, he got his break and kept going strong.
He lost favour under Igor Tudor and could be sold, but had a fantastic first season as a Juventus player.
Pietro Comuzzo, 20, Fiorentina
When clubs like Napoli, Juventus and Inter are all interested in one player, you can tell that the individual is a superb player.
Comuzzo emerged from nowhere to become a starter in the heart of the Fiorentina defence this season.
He debuted as a teenager and went on to play in 44 competitive games for La Viola, most of them as a starter.
He is one of the finest centre-backs in the league already and has been compared to some of the finest defenders Italy has ever had.
Álex Jiménez, 20, AC Milan
Jimenez is one of several players who did not make it into the Real Madrid first team, but at AC Milan, he is showing why he is such a top-level player.
When Kyle Walker joined the club on loan in January, it seemed he would lose his place, and that happened in the first few weeks.
However, he won it back and proved to be a better player to watch for those who buy AC Milan tickets.
He is one of the best players in the Milan squad already, and at 20, he will play for them for a long time.
Zion Suzuki, 22, Parma
Suzuki is one of the reasons Parma stayed in the Italian top flight and avoided relegation.
It will be difficult for him to spend the rest of his career at Parma because he was simply outstanding last season.
The goalkeeper has long been tipped for greatness, and his performance at Parma makes him a star to watch.
Giovanni Leoni, 18, Parma
It's difficult to believe that Leoni is 18 when you watch him play because of the ease and swagger with which he defends.
The Parma star was supposed to continue his development at their U19 team, but he has stepped up to the senior side and continued to develop well.
Juventus and Inter Milan are already eyeing a move for him, and he will certainly not stay long at his current club.
Nico Paz, 20, Como
Cesc Fabregas had a brilliant first season as the manager of Como, especially in the second half of the term.
However, one of the stars that made it easy for him to find success is Paz, who joined from Real Madrid.
There are speculations that Madrid wants him back, and it is not difficult to see why. He has simply been a terrific player in Italy.
However, if they won't give him game time at the Bernabeu, they should probably allow him to keep playing in Como to aid his development further.
Assane Diao, 19, Como
Diao only joined Como in January, but he ended the season as arguably their most influential player, scoring 8 goals in just 15 league matches.
The Senegal international is still 19 and will certainly play for a much bigger club, but for now, he could fire Como to Europe next term if he continues his hot streak.