Writer Pre-Amble: It should be noted that Mattia Perin, Mattia De Sciglio and Stephan El Shaarawy were included in The 10 Series 2013, so although I still consider them to be in the upper echelons of the league’s best young players, they aren’t eligible here.

Only one player was selected from each team to maintain variety (a special exception had to be made for Juventus and the one and only Paul Pogba), so Sime Vrsaljko and Nicola Sansone for Sassuolo and Mauro Icardi for Inter can consider themselves unlucky not to be selected as their team’s best young player.

The 10 Series – Serie A best young players 2014/15:

Paul Pogba

(Juventus, 21 years old)

It goes without saying that Paul Pogba is the best young player in Italian football. It would not be a leap to claim him as the best player overall either. The 21-year-old has the world at his feet and has already established himself with the French national team, starring at the World Cup last summer.

Pogba may be afforded more freedom under Massmiliano Allegri than he was with Antonio Conte, with the possibility that he could operate at the tip of the diamond, with the former Rossoneri coach already claiming he will vary the formation more than his predecessor.

Pogba’s scale for success will be completely different to anybody else on this list. With the player on the verge of greatness, a record-breaking transfer and numerous highly coveted individual awards will be expected in the near future.

Pogba may well make the Bianconeri his team this season, though many rumours continue to suggest his inevitable exit due to the departure of Conte.

Technically gifted and complemented by an ever-growing physical prowess, Pogba should leap off our screens this season as one of Europe’s best players.

Juan Manuel Iturbe

(Roma, 21 years old)



Signed from Hellas Verona this summer, Roma beat off competition from Juventus to sign the coveted Argentine.

Rudi Garcia will deploy the 21-year-old on the left wing, which will provide balance to the side with Gervinho lining up on the opposite side of the pitch to give the Giallorossi some dangerous wide options.

A fee of approximately £20 million adds a little pressure to the former River Plate starlet, but after an outstanding season in Verona, Iturbe has proven he is well suited to Italian football and brings a great deal of fantasy, alongside Francesco Totti and Miralem Pjanic, to the Lupi.

Jorginho

(Napoli, 22 years old)

Jorginho signed for Napoli last January from Hellas Verona and was immediately put into the side by Rafael Benitez, bringing creativity and an ability to set the tempo to the game from the base of the midfield.

Likened to Pirlo in the way he sweeps the ball across the pitch, the Brazilian, who has expressed strong interest in representing the Azzurri internationally, will be tasked with knitting together the Partenopei’s attacks.

Simone Scuffet

(Udinese, 18 years old)

Potentially the finest goalkeeper in Europe of his age, the 18-year-old shot to fame for the Zebrette last season after a series of stunning performances showed off numerous world-class saves.

Scuffet has already been linked with a host of bigger clubs in Italy and across Europe, but to stay in Udine and gain regular starts will be best for his development with the ultimate goal of replacing Gianluigi Buffon as Italy’s number one.

Alvaro Morata

(Juventus, 21 years old)

Potentially a club signing, in the sense that the managerial change from Antonio Conte to Massimiliano Allegri did not seem to halt the deal struck between the Old Lady and Real Madrid.

Therefore, the Rojita international is evidently somebody the Turin side had monitored closely and felt could be a huge success in Serie A.

His tall frame will enable him to thrive for the Bianconeri and should Allegri continue to utilise a formation with two strikers, a partnership with Carlos Tevez could prove fruitful.

A knee injury will delay his immediate impact in the league, but once fit, Morata’s physique, willingness to operate with his back to the goal and aeriel ability should provide Juve with a top striker for many years to come.

Domenico Berardi

(Sassulou, on-loan from Juventus, 20 years old)

One of several outstanding young players for Serie A minnows Sassuolo, Eusebio Di Francesco’s refreshingly expressive style of football has allowed Berardi’s wide range of skills to dazzle calcio fans over the past year.

The 20-year-old shot to fame by scoring a poker in his side’s 4-3 victory against Milan last season.

His ability to play in any position in an attacking trident often sees him to drift about in search of more touches on the ball, which brings the best out of the Azzurrini international.

Berardi’s future ultimately lies with Juventus, but a return on loan to Sassuolo will be greatly beneficial to his development.

Mateo Kovacic

(Inter Milan, 20 years old)

The Croatian is still discovering himself, but we are now seeing signs that he could be something truly special.

Walter Mazzarri appears ready to utilise him in a deeper role, in order to allow the 20-year-old to dictate the tempo of the game in a similar manner to Andrea Pirlo.

Although Hernanes can also operate as a regista, which may see Kovacic shine in an advanced position behind a striker or two.

With an eye to split a defence from the edge of his own penalty area or to pick the lock of a stubborn, deep-lying defence, Kovacic is somebody who tends to make everybody around him better.

Never afraid to receive the ball, the former Dinamo star is ready to break out this season as one of the league’s best players now that Mazzarri has committed to building the team around this precocious talent.

Paulo Dybala

(Palmero, 20 years old)

The Argentine striker could be compared to compatriot Mauro Icardi (who was overlooked in favour of Mateo Kovacic as Inter’s brightest young player), in the sense that one of his best attributes is to react in and around the penalty area with instinctive finishing.

While the Nerazzurri striker is perhaps a little more deadly in front of goal, Dybala possesses quicker feet and can manufacture opportunities by himself by shifting the the ball, often taking on a shot from tricky angles.

He arrived in Italy two years ago and may have been one of the few in Palermo to benefit from the Rosanero relegation in 2012.

The former Instituto forward more than doubled his starts and will now feel better prepared to tackle the top flight upon Palermo’s promotion last season.

Daniele Baselli

(Atalanta, 22 years old)



Another outstanding prospect who thrives in the role of the regista. Baselli has developed quickly over the last season, despite stiff competition in La Dea’s midfield, coming directly up against Luca Cigarini.

Stefano Colantuono has found a way to integrate the 22-year-old though, and with his progressive passing and pinpoint accuracy from a long way out, it is evident the Azzurrini international can play at a higher level in the near future.

Juventus have been linked as an alternative to PSG’s 10 Series graduate Marco Verratti to replace Andrea Pirlo in the near future, which says a lot when you consider he is only on the stage of a midtable Serie A side and not a Champions League contender, as is the case with Verratti.

Keita Baldé Diao

(Lazio, 19 years old)



One of the most unique players in Serie A currently, the Spanish striker has become a shining light for what has recently been an ageing Lazio side.

The 19-year-old possesses searing pace and a bag of tricks to be a highly effective left winger. Schooled at La Masia in Barcelona, Keita is, as a result, competent on the ball and has great tactical awareness when out of possession, often closing the angles of opposition’s defenders to increase the possibility of an interception high up the pitch.

It is probable that Stefano Pioli utilises Baldé on the left of a front trident throughout this campaign, which should allow us to witness him shine for the Biancocelesti.

Which youngster from Serie A are most excited to see in action this season? Someone not on the list? Who are the Serie A best young players to watch in your opinion? Let us know below or on Twitter @JustFootball.

(Photos courtesy of Calcio Streaming via Flickr)