YOUNG PROMISING GOALIES BETWEEN THE POSTS
Three out of the last four winners of the "best goalkeeper" title in Serie A Made in Italy are still playing in our league (Szczęsny, Maignan, and Provedel), while only Donnarumma has pursued a career abroad. Alongside the pillars of Italian football in goalkeeping, a new generation of goalkeepers is emerging. In the current season, some new faces are shining, including debutants Josep Martinez, the Spanish '98-born goalkeeper for Genoa, and Yann Sommer, who, however, is 35 years old. Similarly, the '99-born Okoye and Svilar are also carving out an important space, having become the starters for Udinese and Roma respectively during the ongoing season. Among the youngest players in the role, active in this season, three Italian boys born after 2000 are standing out in the top flight, some making their debut as starters and others getting their second chance.
Marco Carnesecchi, born in 2000 and hailing from Rimini, grew up in the youth ranks of Cesena before moving to Atalanta's Primavera team, where he spent two seasons, also winning the 2018/19 championship. The following year, he faced his first year of apprenticeship in Serie B with Cittadella, then moved on loan to Cremonese, where he played another two seasons in the category, securing a historic promotion to Serie A with the Grigiorossi in his second year on the banks of the Po. In total, he collected 89 appearances in Serie B. Carnesecchi stayed in Cremona for his first season in the top flight, where he made 27 appearances, ending with the Lombardians' relegation. In June of that year, he joined the national team to participate in the Under-21 European Championship wearing the Azzurrini jersey, of which he had already become the starting goalkeeper in the previous cycle, also taking part in the 2021 European Championship.
In the summer, the young Romagnolo returned to Bergamo, this time to vie for his chances; Gasperini alternated him with Juan Musso until mid-December, when the Italian goalkeeper secured his starting position with convincing performances. So far, he has conceded 20 goals in 18 appearances, a good average when combined with the 60 saves made, among which stands out the miraculous save on Calabria during AC Milan v Atalanta on Matchday 26. In 2024, Carnesecchi also has the opportunity to highlight his penalty-saving skills, saving two consecutive penalties from Pinamonti and neutralizing Lautaro Martinez from the spot.
Elia Caprile, a Veronese lad born in 2001, took his first steps in the youth ranks of Chievo Verona, from where he departed in the summer of 2020 for an adventure that took him to England to guard the Leeds goal in the Championship, the English second division. After a year at Pro Patria in Serie C, Elia had a standout season at Bari in Serie B, narrowly missing promotion until the last second.
His jump to the top flight came in the summer when Empoli loaned him from Napoli, the club owning his contract, and he made his debut on the first matchday of the season. Caprile suffered an immediate ankle injury, then returned to the field on 22 December against Lazio and never left the Azzurri's goal again. With the Tuscan team, number 25 conceded 16 goals in 14 starts, made 50 saves, and kept a clean sheet three times. Among the saves that caught the eye of the former Leeds goalkeeper are his acrobatic dive to thwart Kastanos' shot in Salerno, with Empoli leading 1-0, and his performance against Cagliari, sealed by the penalty save from Nicholas Viola with the score at 0-0. For Caprile, this is the second penalty saved this season after the one against Claudio Cassano of Cittadella in the Frecciarossa Italian Cup in August.
Stefano Turati, born in 2001, grew up in the youth ranks of Inter, playing in the Primavera with a Sassuolo jersey. With the Neroverdi, he had a dream debut in Serie A Made in Italy: on December 1, 2019, due to the unavailability of regular keepers Consigli and Pegolo, Turati made his professional debut in the match against Juventus. The young goalkeeper was decisive in steering his team towards the final 2-2 scoreline, becoming simultaneously the first goalkeeper born after 2000 to debut in the Italian top flight. At the Stadium, the Emilian goalkeeper excelled by saving Ronaldo's powerful shot from a set-piece and putting gloves on the dangerous shots of Higuain, Dybala, and Ramsey.
Stefano then went to gain experience in Serie B, where in his first season he played for Reggina, making 22 appearances. The following year, he was loaned to Frosinone, where he carved out the role of undisputed starter, winning the Serie B and setting the record for clean sheets in the category (20). This year, he returned to Serie A with Frosinone's jersey: 26 appearances in 29 league games for him, with 55 goals conceded and 81 saves made. Despite Frosinone having the worst defense in the league, Turati has made an important contribution to the Gialloblù cause, standing out with his save on Leao in the 23rd minute, with his wonders in the match against Sassuolo, and with his miracle save on Luis Alberto in the last match played on March 16. For the Frosinone goalkeeper too, there is a penalty saved to embellish his season, the one denied to Duda with the score at 0-0 in Hellas Verona v Frosinone on Matchday 22.
Discover the best talents for each position in our league in the upcoming episodes (Photo Getty Images)