How Paratici's son is getting on at Roma: Lorenzo shines with the Giallorossi Primavera

Last year Lorenzo Paratici caught the eye at Roma. Gian Piero Gasperini threw him straight in just three days after his arrival from Sampdoria, for the friendly against Roma City, and the 2008-born player scored a hat-trick in the 8-0 win.

After that, he made 13 appearances and scored once for the Primavera, then hit 12 goals in 13 appearances for the Under-18s. Up against players his own age, he made the difference and helped Roma reach the championship semi-final, where they lost to Bologna.

Later, he returned to Sampdoria, who had him sign his first professional contract until 30 June 2028 before Roma took him on loan again. Roma were not about to pass up the chance to back a striker with excellent potential.

Paratici is an atypical, modern centre-forward. He moves well right across the front line without losing his eye for goal, so much so that, in the 2024/25 season, despite being well under age, he finished with 7 goals in 18 matches for Sampdoria's Primavera.

He has yet to score in the three league games he has played, but in the Youth League he has already made the difference. Against Fenerbahce on matchday one, with Roma two goals down in the first half, he sparked the fightback.

Paratici first scored the goal that got Roma back into the game and then dazzled with decisive plays and dribbles, inspiring his team-mates in the 4-2 win completed by Guaglianone, Maccaroni and Falcetta.

At Roma they will get another close look at Paulo Dybala. Last year, in the friendly against Roma City, he scored three goals under the eyes of Gasperini and the Joya, who, when he was just seven and a half years old, he went to meet at the airport with his father Fabio when he arrived at Juventus from Palermo.

A photo from that day at the airport also captured young Lorenzo's joy at meeting the Joya, showing Paratici's son together with Dybala. Now, 11 years on, they both play for Roma.

Perhaps Gasperini, always very attentive to young players, might reward him with the occasional call-up to the first team between now and the end of the year.