|
|
'The Kaka of Serie B' - Introducing new AC Milan starlet Riccardo Saponara
Jan 13, 2013 9:00:00 AM
The young Empoli attacking midfielder has come on in leaps and bounds in recent times, and has earned himself a big move to Milanello as a result
| Bet: | Returns: | Novara £23.00 | Draw £31.00 | Empoli £34.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Novara £22.50 | Draw £30.00 | Empoli £32.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Novara £22.50 | Draw £31.00 | Empoli £30.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Novara £22.50 | Draw £29.00 | Empoli £36.00 |
|
By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer
"When I was told about it, I started to cry," said Riccardo Saponara, explaining his immediate response to the news he was being signed by AC Milan. "For me, Milan are football, and Kaka has always been my idol."
The 21-year-old attacker was snapped up by the Rossoneri this week off the back of a superb run of performances for Empoli in Serie B over the past year. He will stay at the Carlo Castellani until the summer before making his dream move to San Siro, where he hopes to emulate his Brazilian hero. And having made the switch from the wing to the central attacking midfield slot, he is already beginning to turn in form similar to Milan’s former No.22.
Having broken into both the Empoli first-team set-up and the Italy Under-21 squad as a wide man, Saponara struggled to make a significant impact on either flank, and there were fears among some that a formerly much talked-about young prospect may end up fizzling out into a journeyman for provincial outfits in Italy’s top two leagues.
But the decision to move Saponara infield has brought tremendous rewards. All of a sudden, a young man whose main threat was little more than trying to get beyond a full-back and get a cross in, has become one of the most attractive midfield talents in the second tier.
It is not only the switch to a freer role which has sparked the former Ravenna man into action. He also puts his upturn in form down to the employment of a mental coach, Roberto Civitarese, who also deals with clients including Liverpool’s Italy international Fabio Borini. Civitarese told Tuttomercatoweb recently that he believes Saponara’s current form and subsequent signing by Milan have been a long time in coming.
 |
RICCARDO SAPONARA | CAREER STATS
|
 MORE ON RICCARDO SAPONARA |
|
"I have known him for three years and he immediately gave me the impression that he was destined to do important things," said Civitarese. "He always worked with great seriousness and dedication, and today he is bearing the fruits of his work over the years. He had many obstacles to overcome as he grew, but he took them on with strength and determination, and deserves the attention of a club like Milan."
With great poise, balance, superb timing of a run and a cool eye for a pass, Saponara has been the star man in 2012-13 for an Empoli side transformed from relegation candidates to play-off contenders, and has scored eight league goals on the way. His great skill on the ball has also helped him to catch the eye of the team he has dreamt of representing for so long.
Now he is one step closer to becoming the man he idolised for all those years in the red and black. Many keen followers of Italy’s second tier have labelled Saponara the ‘Kaka of Serie B’, which is a high accolade indeed given the strength of that division this term. If he can make the step up in time, then he may well soon stand alongside the likes of Stephan El Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio and M’Baye Niang as a regular in the ‘New Milan’ gradually being built in Lombardy.
As the Rossoneri set about trying to shape their side around the Pirlos, Shevchenkos, Maldinis and Gattusos of the future, they will be hoping they have just acquired their replacement for Kaka in bringing Saponara’s dream to life.
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets |
|
| Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached! |
|
| Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! |
|
Related Stories
Make Your Prediction Choose match
Novara - Empoli
Novara
Empoli
Prediction Submitted
Most Popular Predictions
-
Novara 3-1 Empoli
- 100 %
Live!
Real Madrid press conference - LIVE!
Catch the latest news from the Spanish capital as Jose Mourinho's time at Santiago Bernabeu nears its end. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Joe Wright.
6:40 PM BST
Of course, don't forget to send us your thoughts on tonight - WHATEVER the outcome - via Facebook and Twitter. If Mourinho is set to leave, should he be kept until the season is over, or should Aitor Karanka take charge? What does it mean for the future of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo? Lemme hear your views, people!
6:32 PM BST
Club president Florentino Perez will lead proceedings tonight, with the press conference due to start properly at 20:00 CET. We'll have all the latest from the event as well as all the fall-out from any potential important revelations (which, you feel, might just include something to do with the man below...)
6:30 PM BST
Good evening and welcome to Goal's LIVE! coverage of Real Madrid's press conference from the Spanish capital. Could this be the end of Jose Mourinho's tenure at the club? Stay with us for all the latest!
11:45 PM BST
And on that note I will leave you all! I won't be back next week for another run of the Goal LIVE blog for the Champions League final, but fear not as the legendary Mark Doyle will be entrusted with the role of taking you through all the twists and turns as they happen at Wembley!
I've been Livio Caferoglu on a night in which Chelsea have been crowned European title victors for a successive campaign, and it's good night to you all. Ciao!
I've been Livio Caferoglu on a night in which Chelsea have been crowned European title victors for a successive campaign, and it's good night to you all. Ciao!
11:35 PM BST
More Benfica reaction now - this is what midfielder Nemanja Matic told reporters after the Eagles crashed to a heartbreaking 92nd-minute defeat at the Amsterdam ArenA earlier this evening:
"We played a good game. We played very well, we had more possession and played dangerously in Chelsea's box, but we lacked luck in the end. I can only congratulate Chelsea for the victory, but we didn't lack quality. I still think we played well, we were the best team. We had more control and opportunities to score, but had no luck. The best team doesn't always win."
Inside Goal.Com
-
Bayern's jinx - CL final referee Nicola Rizzoli
Goal takes a look at the career of the Italian arbiter to date following Uefa's decision to appoint the 41-year-old for Saturday's showpiece at Wembley
-
Goal's Serie A awards for 2012-13
Goal crowns the best and worst from Italy over the course of the season
-
2012-13: The season that ended an era
A frenzy of tears, salutes and send-offs have marked the finale of the campaign of goodbyes as the Premier League draws a line under its first defining generation
-
Now or never for Wenger to seal legacy
The Gunners sealed a place in next season's Champions League with victory at Newcastle on Sunday - and must now spend money to improve the squad over the summer
-
And Goal.com's World Player of the Week is ...
Check out which star man gets the nod from our panel of experts this week ...
