Criscitiello likens ‘extremely intelligent’ Milan youth talent to Modric

A journalist has claimed that AC Milan have a Luka Modric-like player coming through their youth system at the moment.

It is natural – especially in the Italian media, it seems – to talk highly of young talents. Davide Bartesaghi, Francesco Camarda, Matteo Gabbia and Gianluigi Donnarumma are examples of this in the past few years, who all graduated from the Milan youth sector.

Sportitalia editor-in-chief Michele Criscitiello has spoken about a talent that is currently in the academy who he believes could also make it to the first team. MilanNews relayed his words.

“Make a note of this, because we never talk about Italians. Obviously I say the new Modric because he’s blond, because otherwise they’ll hospitalise me tomorrow, but Milan has a Modric-like midfielder who used to be an attacking midfielder and now they’ve moved him back to regista,” he said.

“Pandolfi, a 2008 AC Milan youth team player. He’s now at the World Cup in Qatar with the Italy Under-17s. A very strong player, extremely intelligent, a strong player in front of the defence, Pandolfi 2008.”

The 17-year-old started playing further forward as Criscitiello mentions, and he signed his first professional contract with Milan in July 2025. He has played six times for Giovanni Renna’s Primavera this season, with one assist to his name in 484 minutes of league action.