Serie A talent to watch: five prospects who could follow in Joshua Zirkzee’s footsteps after move from Man United

The 2024/25 Serie A season is just around the corner and there are a number of interesting talents looking to establish themselves on the radar of some of Europe’s biggest clubs. A year ago it was Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee who started to shine at Bologna and then moved before moving to Manchester United during the current summer transfer window. Now let’s try to think who can be the next Zirkzee, a player who was not well known before, but can become one of the stars of the upcoming Serie A season.

Serie A kicks off this weekend as some of the world’s biggest cup competitions battle it out for the Scudetto, and you can follow the action all season long on Biggest+, CBS Sports Golazo Network And CBS Sports Network.

1. Matias Soule, AS Roma

The new Giallorossi player is definitely one of the most interesting talents to watch this season. Soule, 21, joined from Juventus this summer after AS Roma paid around €30 million, including add-ons, to sign the talented Argentine striker after he scored 11 goals in 36 Serie A games on loan at Frosinone last season . Juventus decided to turn his strong year into immediate profit and take the money for his departure, but AS Roma were ready to sign him and he will play alongside Paulo Dybala and create one of the most creative attacking lineups to support the central striker to support. , Artem Dovbyk, who also just came over from Girona. Roma is probably the best place for him to end up, and Daniele De Rossi is keen to turn him into one of the best players in Serie A.

2. Dennis Man, Parma

The Romanian winger is a player we should keep an eye on this season. When he arrived at Parma from Steaua Bucharest in January 2021, he immediately felt he could become an important player, but Parma’s relegation to the second division did not help his growth at the top level of European football. Surprisingly, he decided to stay at the club where he spent three seasons in the second division before winning the league last year and gaining promotion again to Serie A. Man also scored 24 goals in 108 games for Parma and was also a key player. for Romania at UEFA Euro 2024 this summer, when they only lost to the Netherlands in the round of 16.

3. Giovanni Fabbian, Bologna

He was also one of the big faces of Bologna last season, when the Italian club managed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League under Thiago Motta. This season it will likely be much harder for them to repeat their performances following the departure of players like Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori, who joined Arsenal. During the 2023–24 season, Fabbian scored five goals in 29 games and was an important part of the squad for Motta, being able to play in a variety of midfield roles. Inter have the right to buy him back from Bologna for €12 million in the summer of 2025, after selling him for €5 million in the summer of 2023. The Nerazzurri will probably do that and then decide whether to keep or sell him. for a larger fee. This season will also likely tell us more about their potential strategy.

4. Michael Kayode, Fiorentina

The Fiorentina right-back is one of the most interesting names among the young Italian talents playing Serie A football this season. Kayode (20) already had a strong debut season in the Italian first division under Vincenzo Italiano. He scored one goal, but mainly played 36 games in all competitions. Kayode could become one of the most valuable right wingers under new manager Raffaele Palladino, who will certainly consider him one of the most interesting players in the squad and apparently sees him as a central defender as well. We will certainly hear a lot more from him in the coming years. Remember his name.

5. Sebastiano Esposito, Empoli

You’ve probably heard his name already. Sebastiano Esposito was already playing Serie A football when he made his professional debut under Antonio Conte at Inter in 2019 and scored his first goal for Inter. Since then, Eposito, who is still only 22, embarked on a journey through Europe that took him to play against FC Basel, Anderlecht, Bari and finally Sampdoria, where he had a strong season, scoring six goals in 23 games under former Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo. He is now back in the Italian Serie A and playing for Empoli, where he finally gets the chance to play as a starter. A great opportunity for him and his future.