Serie A history was made last weekend when Francesco Camarda became the youngest player to play in the Italian first division at the age of 15 years, 8 months and 15 days.
Camarda joined AC Milan, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to break Paolo Maldini’s long-standing record.
The talented striker was promoted to the club’s first team amid an injury crisis, with Milan having to make special concessions as the Italian Football Federation generally does not allow players under the age of 16 to play professional football.Camarda played just a few minutes on his debut and has now forever cemented his place in Milan history.
It’s no surprise that his historic performances have made headlines everywhere, but behind the scenes, Camarda has been on the radar of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Liverpool. According to 90min, Liverpool are one of Camarda’s potential suitors, alongside many of the world’s elite clubs.
The website claims that he currently lives in Milan. Liverpool’s interest in Camarda has merit. He is regarded as Milan’s most talented player and has already dominated many opponents at youth level, scoring many goals, especially for Italy’s youth team.
He has recently risen to the top of the UEFA Youth League, where Camarda has scored three goals and assisted one in three games for Milan, scoring against Newcastle United and Dortmund’s Borussia Dortmund under-19s.It’s still early days, but Camarda is clearly gaining momentum as one of AC Milan’s most promising prospects and it’s encouraging to see Liverpool interested in his services.
However, completing a potential deal would be a major hurdle for Liverpool. After England left the European Union (EU), Liverpool can no longer recruit players under the age of 18 from EU countries.
Previously, before Brexit, the age limit for EU players was 16, which meant Liverpool brought a number of European players into the club’s academy. But that is no longer possible for Jurgen Klopp’s side. This means that if Liverpool want to sign Camarda, they will have to sign him and loan him out for at least the next two seasons. Or wait until the summer transfer window of 2026, when Camarda turns 18 and is free to move under FIFA’s rules on international transfers for minors.
However, the long wait could be a major setback for Liverpool. This is especially true if other closely-linked sides and up-and-coming teams from EU countries, such as Manchester City and Chelsea, are also interested in Camarda’s services and are willing to facilitate a move.
