Will tonight be Francesco Camarda’s night?
The 17-year-old faces his old club at San Siro as Milan meet Lecce in the Coppa Italia round of 16. For him, it will not be an ordinary game.
This tie was written in the bracket months ago.
AC Milan brushed aside Bari, Lecce knocked out Juve Stabia, and the draw lined them up in September. Now Camarda returns to San Siro as a rival, wearing yellow and red instead of red and black.
Last season:
Francesco Camarda’s first year in senior football was a mixed one. He split time between the first team and Milan Futuro.
- 35 appearances in all competitions
- 7 goals and 2 assists, all in Serie C and Coppa Italia Serie C
- 234 minutes with the senior side, including a goal disallowed for offside against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League competition.
He was raw, inconsistent, and at times unlucky, which is normal for a 16-year-old. The AC Milan club management decided the best path was a loan move so he can obtain regular playing time in top flight football, as pointed out by those at Calciomercato.com.
The Lecce move:
On July 7, Serie A outfit Lecce confirmed his arrival. The deal formula? A loan with an option to buy at 3 million euros. Milan kept a buy-back clause at 4 million euros to maintain control of his future. The logic was clear: a calmer setting, a coach like Eusebio Di Francesco, and more space to learn without pressure.
Two months in, however, and the adaptation is tougher than expected.
Early struggles?
Preseason looked promising, but Serie A is a step up. Camarda runs, presses, and fights, but chances are rare. After four games:
- 2 starts, 164 minutes played out of 360
- 0.11 expected goals
- 0.8 shots per game
- 9 touches per game
- 0 big chances created
- 0.5 successful dribbles per match
- 2.8 possessions lost
Actually, US Lecce’s numbers explain part of it: one point in four matches, bottom of the table, only two goals scored. The team struggles to supply him with good balls. He spends much of his time with his back to goal, linking play.
Tonight at San Siro
Supporters are still waiting for his first professional goal. He came close last season, in fact, and tonight he could get another shot, against Milan of all opponents. He is expected to start.
For Francesco Camarda, this is more than a Cup tie. It is a chance to prove he belongs on the pitch at San Siro, even as an opponent. The question will follow him: is he Milan’s future number nine? For now, time is still on his side.
What are the Probable lineups for Milan - Lecce in the Coppa Italia fixture?
Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, De Winter; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Gimenez, Nkunku. Coach: Landucci (Allegri suspended).
Lecce (4-3-3): Fruchtl; Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Ndaba; Coulibaly, Berisha, Helgason; N’Dri, Camarda, Tete Morente. Coach: Di Francesco.
