Samuele Ricci insight: Scouting report, stats, transfer rating and more

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AC Milan officially completed their archetypal signing of the 2025 summertime transportation model connected Thursday, landing Samuele Ricci from Torino.

Ricci arrived successful the greeting to statesman his regular aesculapian examinations, and by the evening helium was leaving Casa Milan having signed his contract, giving a ‘Forza Milan’ to the journalists waiting for him outside.

The authoritative announcement then followed from the club aboriginal successful the evening, confirming that helium has been signed connected a 4 twelvemonth woody with an enactment for a 5th twelvemonth that is successful the club’s favour. It was besides confirmed that helium volition deterioration the No.4 shirt.

Fabrizio Romano tweeted the presumption of the deal connected Saturday afternoon: it volition beryllium a full bundle of €25m, which is breached down into a €23m fixed magnitude and past the remainder successful add-ons. So, what tin Milan fans expect from the caller midfield addition?

Back story

Ricci was calved connected 21 August 2001 successful the tiny municipality of Pontedera, which is not excessively acold from Pisa. When helium was astir 10 years of property helium joined the younker academy of Empoli, who are besides successful the portion of Tuscany.

He came done the Empoli younker set-up, playing astatine the assorted levels earlier joining up with the Primavera broadside up of the 2018–19 season. At that clip helium was inactive lone 17 years of age, truthful it showed however highly rated helium was by the Azzurri Empolesi.

The Italian was called up to the elder squad for the archetypal clip successful April 2019 towards the extremity of that play but was an unused substitute. Then, successful September 2019, helium did marque his first-team debut for Empoli astatine the property of 18, replacing Leo Štulac successful a 1–0 triumph against Cittadella.

Head manager Alessio Dionisi took a radiance to him and began starting him arsenic a mezzala (box-to-box midfielder) successful a three-man midfield. In the January of the 2020-21 season, Ricci scored his archetypal extremity arsenic a nonrecreational successful a 5–0 triumph against Salernitana.

Empoli won Serie B that season, and Ricci adjacent scooped the Manlio Scopigno grant arsenic the champion subordinate successful the league. He amassed 2 goals and 4 assists, and by this constituent helium was connected the radar of clubs successful the apical flight.

After starting the 2021-22 play with the Tuscan club, Ricci was sold to Torino connected a indebtedness with a conditional work to bargain successful the wintertime window. However, helium wasn’t an instant starter and made 12 appearances successful the 2nd fractional of the campaign, with astir disconnected the bench.

On 28 January 2023, helium scored his archetypal extremity for Torino, and it came distant from location astatine the Stadio Carlo Castellani against Empoli, the broadside that helium grew up with.

In the 2023-24 play Ricci amassed 1 extremity and 2 assists successful the league, portion successful the 1 that has conscionable finished helium got a extremity and an assist. It is possibly a reflection of the information helium started taking up a deeper relation arsenic a regista, but much connected that to come.

In presumption of his planetary exploits, Ricci was archetypal called up to the Italy U17 squad successful December 2017 for a affable against France. He would spell connected to look astatine U18, U19 and U21 level betwixt 2018 and 2023, becoming a mainstay with the second successful peculiar (making 17 appearances).

Ricci was selected successful the elder Azzurri squad for the archetypal clip up of the 2022 ‘Finalissima’ (European Championship victor versus Copa America winner) against Argentina connected 1 June 2022. He got a UEFA Nations League radical signifier call-up, debuting connected 4 June against Germany.

He has earned 10 caps to date, and galore extremity him to beryllium a mainstay of the Italy midfield for years to come, particularly if helium tin instrumentality a leap guardant successful his vocation by joining Milan.

Strengths and weaknesses

The archetypal important happening to outline is that Ricci is not a Tijjani Reijnders replacement, but helium could beryllium precisely what the midfield is missing and is portion of an wide rebuild that Massimiliano Allegri wants to adhd equilibrium to the department.

Ricci is Torino and Italy’s press-resistant outlet. He does not play Pirlo-like Hollywood passes (even if helium is his idol), but alternatively prioritises smart, harmless circulation of the ball.

Here we tin spot Ricci positioning himself astatine a bully space to person the shot from his defender and play a harmless walk backmost to the defender connected the different broadside of the pitch.

BUILD-UP PHASE

Ricci is Torino & Italy’s press-resistant outlet.

Not Pirlo-like Hollywood passes—but smart, harmless circulation.

Here we tin spot Ricci positioning himself astatine a bully space to person the shot from his defender and play a harmless walk backmost to the defender connected the… pic.twitter.com/8JIE8fsr4B

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

Torino and Italy usage Ricci arsenic their focal constituent to physique up retired of the press. Again, this doesn’t mean pinging agelong balls 50 yards archetypal time, but adjacent playing harmless passes and not losing the shot to the absorption tin besides beryllium a large way. Here are immoderate examples.

Below we tin spot Ricci positioning himself astatine a bully space to person the shot from his defender and play a harmless walk backmost to the defender connected the different broadside of the pitch.

In this situation, you tin spot however Ricci sits backmost into the backmost 3 portion Lazio are successful a mid-block. He gets connected the shot and scans his options, and helium tin spot however helium has a quadrate passing enactment successful Vojvoda (27), but decides to spot the shot to Lazzaro, which stretches Lazio’s compact defence and opens abstraction for Tameze’s run.

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

Ricci, successful this sequence, angles himself successful a mode that helium is distant from the screen shadows of the German defenders and is successful abstraction to person the shot from his centre-back. And portion helium volition person the pass, helium draws his marker with him, creating abstraction successful the centre for Barella to bash a one-two with Daniel Maldini.

Ricci, successful this sequence, angles himself successful a mode that helium is distant from the screen shadows of the German defenders and is successful abstraction to person the shot from his CB. And portion helium volition person the pass, helium draws his marker with him, creating abstraction successful the centre for Barella to bash a… pic.twitter.com/HLZOsNapth

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

Sometimes helium doesn’t adjacent person the shot astatine his feet to progress. Here we tin spot that Barella tries to advancement the shot but is marked by Musiala. Barella passes backmost to Gatti. Ricci acts arsenic a artifact successful beforehand of Mittlesladt to forestall him from tackling Gatti and draws Musiala successful to springiness abstraction for Gatti to walk backmost to Barella.

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

Ricci besides pulls his marker person towards him by taking tiny touches, which keeps the shot adjacent to him, but passing angles unfastened up similar this peculiar sequence.

Ricci besides pulls his marker person towards him by taking tiny touches, which keeps the shot adjacent to him, but passing angles unfastened up similar this peculiar sequence. pic.twitter.com/izkXZv96gW

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

When Ricci plays higher up the pitch, helium tries to agelong the absorption property and marque abstraction for his team-mates to play done the wide areas.

When helium gets into abstraction higher up the transportation helium tends to dribble into abstraction similar this peculiar series against Inter.

If playing done a peculiar flank is difficult, past it is up to Ricci to power the shot to the different flank.

In presumption of his carnal profile, contempt lasting lone 1.8m, he’s remarkably sturdy and hard to dispossess. He uses his assemblage efficaciously arsenic a shield betwixt opponents and the ball.

He besides possesses exceptional acceleration whichwas important for tracking backmost erstwhile Torino’s property is beaten.

PHYSICAL PROFILE

– Physical strengths of Samuele Ricci:
– Despite lasting lone 1.8m, he’s remarkably sturdy and hard to dispossess
– Uses his assemblage efficaciously arsenic a shield betwixt opponents and the ball
– Possesses exceptional acceleration – important for tracking back… pic.twitter.com/ECEx2tRSVN

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

Being much of a screening midfielder sitting successful beforehand of the defence, the subordinate indispensable person a precocious duel occurrence rate. Ricci, arsenic mentioned above, uses his stout framework to triumph balls backmost from the absorption players and forestall danger.

His velocity allows him to way backmost successful lawsuit of transitions and snuff retired immoderate information from the opposition.

Also, Ricci is simply a precise bully survey of the game. He tin work moves of the absorption successful advance, arsenic you tin spot present however helium stops Mkhitaryan going done connected extremity contempt Inter’s 3rd antheral combination.

The 24-year-old besides possesses consciousness and vision, which are important for playing a deeper role. Ricci’s elite spatial consciousness allows him to consistently way teammates’ and opponents’ positions.

His regular scanning of surroundings provides important tactical accusation earlier receiving the ball. The ex-Empoli antheral is besides exceptional astatine identifying and exploiting passing lanes done antiaircraft structures

Then, determination is his intelligent positioning. Ricci strategically moves to agelong absorption antiaircraft line, helium creates invaluable abstraction for teammates done deliberate positioning and uses wide positioning to facilitate effectual shot progression done congested areas.

TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE

Awareness and Vision
– Elite spatial consciousness allows Ricci to consistently way teammates’ and opponents’ positions
– Regular scanning of surroundings provides important tactical accusation earlier receiving the ball
– Exceptional astatine identifying… pic.twitter.com/HP2xLBnh28

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

Ricci is lone 23 (turning 24 this year) and has deficiencies helium needs to robust out. For example, his determination connected the shot needs to improve, arsenic we tin spot present his walk played close into Lazio’s trap and they efficaciously converted it into a goal.

AREAS TO IMPROVE

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 3, 2025

Statistical comparison

It is astir absorbing and close to instrumentality a look astatine the 2023-24 play numbers and marque a examination with Manuel Locatelli, different Italian No.6 who played nether Massimiliano Allegri successful that peculiar campaign.

While Locatelli is simply a amended progressive passer and an fantabulous passer into the last third, Ricci has much interceptions and a somewhat amended GCA. In different words, the erstwhile is somewhat much connected the originative side, and the second much connected the antiaircraft side.

As highlighted above, Ricci is simply a deep-phase controller, not a final-third presence. His heatmap (via
@SofascoreINT) proves it: deeper zones, astute positioning. If helium were paired with Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana it would person been a balanced, dynamic midfield.

Alas, we indispensable hold to spot what the finishing touches are, but Luka Modric’s imminent accomplishment and the imaginable signing of Ardon Jashari suggests that Allegri should beryllium capable to find a operation that works together.

FBRef supply the quality to comparison Ricci with different midfielders successful the ‘top five’ European leagues positive the Champions League and the Europa League implicit the past 365 days, based connected 2825 minutes played overall.

Ricci is successful the 78th percentile for walk completion (at 88%) and the 83rd percentile for passes blocked (0.51) which again highlights his resourcefulness successful possession alternatively than bravery/stupidity.

Defensively, helium ranks successful the 95th percentile for percent of dribblers tackled (64.3%) and the 98th for challenges mislaid astatine 0.32. Combative would beryllium the close connection there, too.

Moreover, helium is successful the 72nd percentile for times dispossessed successful possession (0.57 per game) and the 94th for fouls drawn (2.23). Efficiency besides extends to his dribbling too, therefore.

It is worthy noting that the Pontedera-born regista ranks a batch little (bottom 30 percentile) for a batch of the end-product stats similar goals, Expected Goals, assists, shots, shot-creating actions and progressive passes.

Ricci besides ranks rather debased connected wide touches, take-ons attempted, tackles won, shot recoveries and aerial duels won. This lone reinforces the thought we person been preaching astir the information helium is precise overmuch a antiaircraft anchor who keeps things elemental – helium volition not dictate the play similar his idol Pirlo.

We besides promote you to work the tweet below, which provides a examination betwixt Ricci and Sandro Tonali successful assorted antithetic metrics.

RICCI vs TONALI

Defensive Contributions

Tackles + Interceptions: Tonali (2.96) intelligibly leads Ricci (1.02), showing much nonstop engagement successful ball-winning.

Recoveries: Still successful Tonali’s favour (5.91 vs 4.69), but Ricci’s fig is coagulated — suggesting helium positions himself well… pic.twitter.com/dL4bxhMyvI

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 4, 2025

Conclusion

Ricci inactive has areas to robust out, and moving with Allegri and astir apt Modric tin help. He was earlier linked with a determination to City erstwhile Rodri was injured arsenic well, which shows conscionable however overmuch helium has impressed.

It has been a agelong clip since Milan really signed a earthy regista, i.e. idiosyncratic to run successful beforehand of the defence arsenic a shield. They volition probably, however, request a much originative subordinate to implicit the trio, which is wherefore the links to Jashari and Javi Guerra are nary surprise.

The large question people concerns what the statement volition beryllium erstwhile Modric starts, fixed the reports that Allegri wishes to usage the Croatian successful beforehand of the defence to power the travel of games. Can they co-exist, oregon volition 1 beryllium connected the seat for the other?

Still, astatine 24 years of property determination is country for Ricci to further make and possibly evolve. To get a subordinate with league acquisition successful a presumption of request for perchance little than €25m – considering however the Italian home marketplace usually works – feels similar a large spot of business.

Transfer rating: 7.5/10

The station Samuele Ricci insight: Scouting report, stats, transportation standing and more appeared archetypal connected SempreMilan.

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