During the match with Hellas Verona, AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli handed Davide Bartesaghi a moment he will never forget: his official debut with the big boys. The 17-year-old Italian left-back entered to replace Alessandro Florenzi in the 74th minute and contributed with a decent performance.
Davide Bartesaghi was indeed one of the young players chosen by Stefano Pioli for the tour in the USA. Even there, there was his debut, although Serie A is a completely different stage compared to summer friendlies.
And to think that the young Rossonero, in Ignazio Abate's Primavera last year, wasn't even a starter, having only made 17 appearances. Yet Stefano Pioli decided to make him Theo Hernandez's backup, even though yesterday he fielded Alessandro Florenzi. As his father told in an interview with 'gianlucadimarzio.com' (relayed via Pianeta Milan), it all started with a trial where a certain Paolo Maldini was present.
"When he was four years old, they immediately said to me: 'He has something extra.' The first club to look for him was Milan, but in the end, on advice, I sent him to Atalanta. However, I was new to the environment and I never signed the contract: so after a year and a half in Bergamo, we went to Milan. At Vismara, at the trial, there were Inzaghi, Carbone, and Maldini. They asked me if Davide wanted to be part of the Rossoneri family. I had no words to answer, I was stunned. Eleven years have passed. And now we are here, I watch him go off with the big guys."
