Camarda, an Ibra-like goal and a desire to play: he can be useful to two Milans, if...

Becoming an adult at sixteen. Camarda is studying to be an adult at Milan and at Milanello they are very sure that he has everything to become one in the shortest possible time. For the way he thinks, as well as for the way he plays. Of course, he will need to be taken by the hand, the right advice and above all a lot of mental strength. Yes, because if on the one hand it is not a coincidence that both Fonseca and Conceiçao have always considered him and brought him to the first team, and that the club believes in him so much that they did not even send him on loan, on the other hand it was not easy not to play for so many games and to be tossed between the first team and Milan Futuro.

Camarda has played 191 minutes in the first team so far (13 appearances, one as a starter) and 936 with Milan Futuro in Serie C (12 appearances, 4 goals). The last one, beautiful and long-awaited (the previous goal was scored on 1 September), came on Sunday against Pescara: stop and follow, protect the ball and great shot on goal. Like Ibra, someone said. Yes, no one has anything to say about the boy's technical qualities, as well as his professionalism and his selflessness. When he went down to Serie C he always did it with great humility and enthusiasm. Feet on the ground, in short. However, his management remains a bit paradoxical. Camarda now trains regularly with the first team, but he spent many weeks without playing with either Conceiçao's team or Bonera's (recently dismissed after the defeat against Pescara: Oddo took his place). See the month of February to believe it. Ten minutes in the derby - where he almost scored a great goal -, a handful of minutes with Feyenoord in the Champions League and with Torino on Saturday night. Then that's it. Until yesterday, where he collected eighty as a starter with Milan Futuro, finding a great goal. But the ups and downs leave more than a few question marks.

Milan believes in it so much, they are investing a lot and there is no doubt about it. Francesco has the potential of a predestined one and is destined to break one record after another. If last season he was the youngest debutant ever in Serie A (15 years, 8 months, 16 days), this year came the first joy in Europe. On the pitch against Bruges, in the last quarter of an hour of the game, an entrance that made him the youngest Italian (and Milan) debutant in the history of the Champions League. More tears, more emotion, more outpourings of love from the Rossoneri people. With the regret of that disallowed goal, which would have further consigned him to the history of the Devil. Then came the first in Serie A as a starter, 60' against Cagliari, the first derby (with a roar when he entered the pitch) and the first trophy won (even without playing). In short, he is getting some satisfaction and is certainly enriching his experience, even if a big question remains: can this lack of continuity weigh on him in the long run?

One way to solve this problem would have been to send him on loan. And at the end of January it seemed like a done deal. Camarda, in fact, was one step away from moving from Galliani to Monza, on loan for 18 months, with the possibility of returning to Milan early even as early as June. But then there was a sudden about-face and thinking about the scene, from the outside, even makes you smile. Ibra, who still calls Galliani “boss”, says no at the last minute for the boy's sake. In fact, Milan's choice, also due to Monza's difficult situation (last in Serie A), was to opt for Francesco to remain in the Rossoneri. Without, however, increasing his playing time with the big boys.

Who knows what the path will be from now until the end of the season. Who knows how next year will be managed. Francesco, as demonstrated yesterday, is responding present even if it is not always easy. The hope is that the jewel against Pescara can be a starting point in terms of goals and continuity. Also helping Milan Futuro in this difficult situation, perhaps starting next Sunday with Legnago, a direct clash for salvation. Or that Conceiçao, from now until June, can give him more space in Serie A. The important thing is that he plays. That he does not lose confidence on the pitch and with goals. At his age, this is what matters most. The road to the moon is traced, but now it is essential to build the mountain well to get there, even going through difficulties and disappointments. At Milanello everyone is sure that he will reach it soon.