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The FIFA 19 Serie A wonderkid XI
We pick out the brightest young FIFA 19 players to select in Italy's top division – Serie A.
With Cristiano Ronaldo now plying his trade in Italy’s top division, all eyes are on Juventus more than ever – but there’s plenty of other talent in Turin and beyond that'll be around long after CR7 has hung up his boots and turned off his tanning bed.
We’ve compiled a list of FIFA 19’s best players aged 21 or under who have bright futures ahead of them but won’t set you back more than about €20m, with plenty on the list costing far less than that. Any player who’s not available to buy in the opening transfer window of the game’s Career Mode has been discounted, so you won’t find anyone here who won’t sign straight away if you offer the right amount.
Speaking of money, we’ve tried to give you an idea of how much each player should cost, although do bear in mind that you might be able to get them for less by including sell-on clauses in the deal. Happy shopping!
FIFA 19’s Serie A Wonderkid XI
© EA Sports
Goalkeeper
GK: Alessandro Plizzari (AC Milan)
Serie A is awash with young goalkeeping talent, but AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma will set you back around €50m, and Alban Lafont and Alex Meret have only just joined Fiorentina and Napoli respectively. Waiting in the wings at the San Siro, however, is 18-year-old Alessandro Plizzari. While he’s only rated 66 overall right now, his stats for diving, handling and reflexes are promising and he has the potential to reach 84 with the right training. He’ll probably need a fair bit of that before he’s ready for your first team, but considering he’s in the final year of his contract the U20 international can be picked up for just €850,000.
Defence
LB: Luca Pellegrini (Roma)
Not to be confused with fellow Roma player Lorenzo, Luca Pellegrini is a few years younger, but has the potential to be just as good as his team-mate. An attacking full-back whose crossing, positioning and dribbling stats all show promise, the 19-year-old is very much one for the future. That’s reflected in his €850,000 asking price and 65 overall rating, but if you’re thinking long term, the fact that he could eventually reach 83 and has low wage demands makes him a very affordable investment for practically any team.
CB: Luiz Felipe (Lazio)
For all its reputation for dazzling attacking football, Brazil have also produced some world-class central defenders in recent years. Could Lazio’s Luiz Felipe be the next one? With high 70s for his tackling and marking he should be able to dispossess opposition players with regularity, although with 76 for interceptions, 74 for reactions, 72 for acceleration and a high defensive work rate, he’ll probably be there before them anyway. Lazio will want €5.5m for the 21-year-old, but an overall potential rating of 84 makes that look like a steal.
CB: Filippo Romagna (Cagliari)
If you’re looking for a centre-half to nurture, who’ll also set you back a bit less, Cagliari’s Filippo Romagna can be had for just over €4m. He’s only rated 70 overall for now, but he’s agile, good on the ball and reads the game well. His 71 for marking and 75 for standing tackles aren’t spectacular stats for a young defender, but the 21-year-old works hard without the ball and has the potential to reach 84 overall eventually. For the price, you can’t ask for much more.
RB: Davide Calabria (AC Milan)
Davide Calabria has made AC Milan’s right-back position his own in the past year or so and it’s pretty easy to see why. With 81 for both stamina and acceleration he can up and down the flank all day and he’s no slouch when doing so. As a former midfielder he has 78 for crossing, so you’ll want to get him away from his own goal as much as possible, but he’s just as comfortable without the ball, thanks to stats in the high 70s for tackling, marking, interceptions and aggression. That means the Rossoneri will want around €15.5m for the 21-year-old, but he’ll pay you back with the potential to reach 87 overall.
FIFA 19’s Serie A Wonderkid XI
© EA Sports
Midfield
CM: Amadou Diawara (Napoli)
When Jorginho left Napoli to join his former boss Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea in the Premier League, Amadou Diawara might’ve expected to step in and anchor the midfield in his absence. It hasn’t really worked out like that so far, but the 21-year-old Guinean is more than capable of slotting into plenty of teams. He boasts 84 for stamina, 82 for short passing and the same for aggression, plus stats in the high 70s for everything from interceptions and standing tackles to vision and dribbling. Napoli will let him leave for €15m, which isn’t bad for a player who can eventually reach 87 overall.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Juve’s Uruguayan midfielder has been hovering around the first team for a while now, but hasn’t really cemented a regular starting place. That means he can be picked up from the Italian champions for around €14m – a bit of a bargain for a 76-rated 21-year-old with the potential to reach 88 overall. Happiest when looking forward from central midfield, he’s a bit of an all-rounder, with 83 for control, stamina and short passing, 82 for dribbling and stats in the mid 70s for tackling. That makes him ideal for keeping the ball moving in the middle of the pitch.
CM: Nicolò Barella (Cagliari)
Cagliari’s Nicolò Barella waltzed into our Serie A Wonderkid XI last season thanks to his neat and tidy midfield play and the past 12 months have only seen the 21-year-old improve. His balance, stamina, dribbling and composure make him a calming influence in the middle of the park, allowing him to keep the ball and look for available players further up the field, while 79 for short passing and 78 for long ones should mean he can find them without too much trouble as well. That extra year has seen his stock rise, though, meaning he’ll now set you back €17m. With potential now of 88 though, that price is only going to get higher.
Attack
LW: Orji Okwonkwo (Bologna)
20-year-old Nigerian winger Orji Okwonkwo might still be quite raw, but with 89 for acceleration and sprint speed, there’s no denying the pure pace he’ll bring to your team. He’s more than just a sprinter though. Good agility, dribbling and ball control mean he should be a problem to get the ball off, while 72 for crossing and 74 for short passing aren’t bad for a player only rated 70 overall. He won’t stay that way for long though, with the potential to hit 85 overall with the right development, plus you can pick him up from Bologna for a very reasonable €3.5m.
RW: Cengiz Ünder (Roma)
It only took one season playing in the Turkish Süper Lig to convince Roma to shell out over €13m for Cengiz Ünder and the 21-year-old has simply carried on where he left off. That’s added €7m to his asking price on FIFA 19, but that will get you a winger with great agility and balance, a decent burst of pace and the ability to both find your striker with a cross or dribble into the box looking for a shot on goal. Is €20m too much for you? Napoli’s Adam Ounas isn’t quite as capable but is available for a more affordable €8.5m.
ST: Patrick Cutrone (AC Milan)
Patrick Cutrone’s rise from youth-teamer to first-team regular has been rapid, bursting onto the scene last year with a keen eye for goal and the kind of movement that can’t be taught. That’s seen his asking price in FIFA 19’s Career Mode skyrocket since the start of last season, from €1.5m to €20.5m, but with 80 for finishing already and the potential to hit 89 overall, the 20-year-old academy graduate has a big future ahead of him. If your pockets aren’t that deep, Juventus will accept €6m for Moise Kean, who needs a bit more development, but can still reach 87 with the right training.
