Borussia Dortmund are said to be keeping an eye on Francesco Camarda from AC Milan’s U19s. A tweet once sparked the hype surrounding the 15-year-old striker, who achieved incredible goal rates at Milan and shattered numerous records.
“I never expected such fanfare,” said Francesco Pagani. “I was impressed by him from the start. When I got more information, I posted this tweet, which was then picked up by various newspapers.”
15 months after the now 38-year-old scout for the Italian association FIGC wrote about Francesco Camarda, he looked back at Calciomercato on October 4, 2021: “I certainly didn’t discover the player, but I helped to make him a little known .”
That is quite an understatement. Thanks to Pagani, Camarda was suddenly on everyone’s lips, with media coverage around the world his tweet and wrote about a child wearing an AC Milan jersey who apparently put up numbers that would have amazed even Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko.
According to information from Pagani, Camarda, who was shortly afterwards employed as chief scout at today’s Italian fourth division club Varesina Calcio for four and a half years, is said to have scored 483 goals – in 87 games. Pagani broke down the stats as follows: During the 2017-18 season, Camarda, who was 13 at the time of the tweet, scored 247 times in 40 games. A year later there were 172 goals in 31 games, then in 2019/20 there were almost a paltry 64 goals in 16 games.
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BVB transfer target Francesco Camarda: The hype continues to this day
Ergo: 5.5 goals per game. It must be mentioned that some games were played in seven-on-seven mode. Nevertheless, unsurprisingly, a hype broke out immediately, which still exists today, when Camarda is now 15 years old. “Many people around him said that he was already an outstanding player when he came to AC Milan at the age of seven or eight,” said Pagani.
Sicilian-born Camarda was exactly seven years old when he joined the Rossoneri’s academy after a season at GSD Afforese in northern Milan. He immediately caused a stir. This is how the story goes about a U9 tournament in Vienna when Milan met FC Bayern in the final in 2018. Camarda had to leave the field early due to an ankle injury. Fifteen minutes before the final whistle, the Italians were two goals down when the striker suddenly came back onto the pitch. The coach actually sent him in again – and Camarda turned the game around with a brace and an assist.
Early on he played against much older opponents. In 2021, at the age of 13, he was promoted to the U15, scored 22 goals in 24 games and scored a header in the championship final against Florence. After the season, Camarda was voted the best U15 player of the year.
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BVB is apparently watching Milan striker Francesco Camarda
A year later he was part of the Milan U16, where he was top scorer with 27 goals. But in December 2022, at the age of 14 (!), the attacker made his unofficial debut in the U19, the so-called Primavera, in a friendly match. And of course: Camarda scored twice.
Four months later, Adidas signed him, as he announced to his 95,000 followers on Instagram – where he also follows BVB, the only club besides Milan. This fits into the picture because Camarda and Dortmund were part of a transfer rumor these days.
Bild and the English media had reported that BVB had appointed its scouts for the talent, but had not yet made any official advance. Manchester City is also said to be interested.
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BVB striker Moukoko overtaken by Francesco Camarda
Of course, the rumor comes at a fitting time when Camarda caused quite a stir within ten days in September. First, the 15-year-old scored for the first time in a competitive game for the U19s, only to score two goals in just 26 minutes on his Youth League debut three days later against Newcastle United – including two penalties. A week later he went one better with a hat-trick in 31 minutes in the U19 Cup.
In doing so, Camarda set two remarkable records: Not only did he become the youngest goalscorer in the ten-year history of the Youth League, but at 15 years, six months and 16 days he was also the youngest player to score in all three U19 competitions (league, cup, Youth League). This meant he overtook Moukoko and ex-Bayern player Ryan Gravenberch.
So it’s no wonder that, according to Sky Sports, Camarda’s profile on the Transfermarkt portal was clicked on more frequently in September than those of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. No wonder that Milan is wrapping its jewel in cotton wool and protecting it from the hype as best as possible.
BVB interest in Francesco Camarda? The striker in the profile
Birthday:10th March 2008 Height: 1.84 meters Position: Striker Clubs: GSD Afforese, AC Milan National team: Italy U15 (9 games, 6 goals), Italy U16 (7 games, 3 goals), Italy U17 (3 games, 3 goals)
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Francesco Camarda: role model Benzema, hobby kickboxing
Camarda’s U19 coach Ignazio Abate told Gazzetta dello Sport: “He is still very young but much wiser than his age. He has his head on his shoulders and is a hard worker. If his influence becomes even more important for us, he has to keep both feet on the ground.”
And what does Camarda himself say? So far he has only spoken in more detail once, telling the La Giovane Italia portal last year about his connection to the Rossoneri: “I have supported Milan since I first went to the stadium at the age of six. It’s a passion, that my entire family has passed on to me.”
Camarda counted midfield strategist Kakà among his idols, but also named prominent strikers who inspired him: “My role model is Benzema, but the player I want to model myself on is Ronaldo, Il Fenomeno. In terms of character, I admire Zlatan Ibrahimovic: him Has the attitude of a winner.” Like Ibra, kickboxing is one of Camarda’s hobbies; he wrote under a picture with the former Milan attacker on Instagram in September 2020: “Finally.”
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BVB transfer target Francesco Camarda: professional contract from June 16th
Camarda turns 16 on March 10th. On this day he is expected to sign his first professional contract for a maximum period of three years – it is said to be already prepared in Milan’s drawer. Some observers even believe that Camarda will make his professional debut in Serie A at the end of the season.
The plan that the Rossoneri are apparently pursuing is more realistic: Milan would like to create a second team that will compete as U23s in the third-tier Serie C from the coming season – with Camarda as part of this team.
When asked about his dream, Camarda had already answered: “My debut with the Rossoneri in Serie A.” Given his love for the club and the city, it seems absurd that the striker would decide on another offer at just 16.
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Francesco Camarda “cannot be unknown to observers”
On Wednesday he played in the Youth League in Dortmund, but after his 90-minute appearance against Newcastle he only came into the game for the final five minutes. It’s not just BVB that will continue to closely monitor its development towards its 16th birthday and beyond.
“Even if there wasn’t this hype, he’s following such a path that everyone in the industry has his eye on him. Camarda can’t be unknown to observers of the big clubs. That doesn’t mean he’s going to Real Madrid. But it is “It’s pretty obvious that a lot of people are going to try to get him,” said scout Pagani.
BVB is probably watching Francesco Camarda: his statistics at AC Milan
SeasonGamesGoals2017/2018402472018/2019311722019/202016642021/202224222022/2023unclear272023/2024 (as of October 6, 2023)86
2023-10-06 05:48:12
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