Scalvini, Yildiz & Soulé lead the way - The most valuable U21 players in Serie A
As we approach the business end of the season, there’s still plenty to play for in Serie A. Whilst Inter Milan look to have already wrapped up the title, sitting 16 points ahead of rivals AC Milan who are second, the race for the Champions League places and to avoid relegation looks set to go to the wire. Italy currently lead the UEFA coefficient rankings (meaning they would get a fifth Champions League spot as things stand) and just eight points currently separate fourth place Bologna and eighth place Fiorentina.
In the latest Serie A market value update on March 12, the league as a total rose in value by €125.25 million, taking its total market value to €4.79b, with many rises for the league's youthful talents. But who are the top 10 most valuable U21 players in the Serie A?
The top 10 most valuable U21 players in the Serie A
1. Giorgio Scalvini - Atalanta - 20 years old - €45m: Atalanta’s 6 ft 4 centre-half Giorgio Scalvini has become one of the most sought after young defenders in world football in the last 12 months. At just 20 years of age, he has already made seven caps for Italy, and has been a rock at the heart of the Atalanta defence, playing 26 of their 28 Serie A games this season. There has been reported interest from Manchester United and Juventus, and the young Italian looks likely to be on the move this summer.
2. Kenan Yildiz - Juventus - 18 years old - €30m: Kenan Yildiz has been one of the standout teenagers in European football this season. The 18-year-old Turkish forward has burst onto the scene with Juventus this term, playing 18 times for the ‘Old Lady’ in Serie A, and scoring one goal. He has also already represented Turkey three times, and scored for his nation. Yildiz is another player with a lot of interest, with reports that both Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in the Juventus youngster.
3. Matías Soulé - Frosinone (on loan from Juventus) - 20 years old - €25m: Argentine winger Matias Soulé was sent out on loan by parent club Juventus to Frosinone last summer, and what an impact he has had. At just 20 years of age, he has 10 goals and two assists in 26 Serie A games this season. Soulé looks on track to have made a great claim to be part of Massimiliano Allegri’s future plans at Juventus from next season onwards. No player has completed more key passes than Soulé in Serie A this season.
4. Riccardo Calafiori - Bologna - 21 years old - €25m: Signed for €4m from Swiss side Basel on deadline day last summer, centre-back Riccardo Calafiori has had an instant impact at Bologna this season. He has played 23 league games for the club with the third best defensive record in the entire Serie A. Calafiori has also even chipped in with two assists from centre-half.
5. Yunus Musah - AC Milan - 21 years old - €23m: USA international Yunus Musah was signed by AC Milan from Valencia for €20m last summer and has been making slow but steady progress for the Italian giants. He has played 23 Serie A games at the base of the Milan midfield this campaign. Perhaps, more impressively though, at just 21 years old, Musah has already represented the USA at full international level 33 times. He may already have his eye on eclipsing Cobi Jones’ record of 164 caps in the future.
6. Valentín Carboni - Monza (on loan from Inter) - 19 years old - €15m: There’s high hopes for Argentine teenager Valentín Carboni at Inter Milan, and those aspirations will have only been heightened by the 19 year old’s loan spell at Monza this season. Carboni has two goals and four assists in 24 Serie A games, and is widely seen to be one for the future at the black and blue half of the San Siro.
7. Michael Kayode - Fiorentina - 19 years old - €15m: The 19-year-old full-back Michael Kayode has been one of the standout teenagers in Europe this season, playing 19 league games for Fiorentina, and has even scored and provided two assists from right-back. A former Juventus academy player, Kayode has had reported interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Inter Milan this season.
8. Fabio Miretti - Juventus - 20 years old - €15m: Fabio Miretti has been a regular in midfield for Juventus this season, making 19 Serie A appearances, including 13 starts. Miretti has already made 68 appearances in total for Juventus - an impressive feat at 20 years of age. Injuries to midfielders Adrien Rabiot and Weston McKennie, combined with the doping ban imposed on Paul Pogba, have meant increased opportunities this season and the young Italian hasn’t looked out of place.
9. Tommaso Baldanzi - Roma - 20 years old - €15m: Tommaso Baldanzi is yet another promising young Italian making his mark in Serie A this season. Having spent the first half of the season on loan at Empoli, he was recalled in late January, and seems very much part of new Roma manager Daniele De Rossi’s plans. Since being recalled, Baldanzi has featured in five of Roma's last six games.
10. Victor Kristiansen - Bologna - 21 years old - €15m: On loan from Championship side Leicester City, Victor Kristiansen has had a big impact at Bologna, and is one of the reasons why the club is currently sitting in the top four in the Serie A table. With four assists in 24 appearances from left-back, the Dane looks to have a very bright future, and may be part of Leicester’s potential Premier League plans should they get promoted back to the English top-flight.
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 11, 2003 (20)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Atalanta BC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Centre-Back
- Market Value:
- €45.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- May 4, 2005 (18)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Juventus FC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2027
- Position:
- Second Striker
- Market Value:
- €30.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Apr 15, 2003 (21)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Frosinone Calcio
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2024
- Position:
- Right Winger
- Market Value:
- €25.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- May 19, 2002 (21)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Bologna FC 1909
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2027
- Position:
- Centre-Back
- Market Value:
- €25.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Jul 10, 2004 (19)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- ACF Fiorentina
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Right-Back
- Market Value:
- €15.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Aug 3, 2003 (20)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Juventus FC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2027
- Position:
- Central Midfield
- Market Value:
- €15.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 16, 2002 (21)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Bologna FC 1909
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2024
- Position:
- Left-Back
- Market Value:
- €15.00m
- Total Market Value:
- €622.35m
- Competition:
- Serie A
- Position:
- 1.
- Manager:
- Simone Inzaghi
- Squad size:
- 25
- Latest Transfer:
- Tajon Buchanan
- Total Market Value:
- €533.45m
- Competition:
- Serie A
- Position:
- 2.
- Manager:
- Stefano Pioli
- Squad size:
- 26
- Latest Transfer:
- Filippo Terracciano
- Total Market Value:
- €490.20m
- Competition:
- Serie A
- Position:
- 3.
- Manager:
- Massimiliano Allegri
- Squad size:
- 27
- Latest Transfer:
- Carlos Alcaraz