Opinion: Why Christian D'Urso belongs with the first team

Having starred in Roma's Primavera side that won the championship last season, the young midfielder has quickly shown he's well and truly at home playing with the first team, fitting right in during the Giallorossi's first two matches against AC Pinzolo and Terek Grozny.

D'Urso, who joined the club in 2011 and has since been converted from a winger to a central midfielder, has jumped at the chance to train under Luciano Spalletti this summer.

“I was with the first team for pre-season last year too and it really is the best way for a youngster learn,” D'Urso said. “When you train with the senior players, you pick up all sorts of things just by watching them.

"You can’t help but improve with a coach like Spalletti. We’re doing a lot of running, but also lots of really intensive work with the ball. It's hard going.”

Being deployed alongside Kevin Strootman, who D'Urso believes is the one player in the squad he models his game after, has given him a lot of confidence.

After getting on the scoresheet in Roma's 16-0 triumph against AC Pinzolo, D'Urso put in another encouraging shift vs Terek Grozny. From his central midfield post, there was plenty to like about the youngster's performance. He used his technical qualities to stroke the ball around with precision and purpose, while also showcasing his dribbling skills to get beyond his opponents when the opportunity presented itself. His defensive contribution was also notable, as his vigorous pressing forced the Russian side into several turnovers.

The most advanced part of the young midfielder’s game, however, is his precocious understanding of space. In both preseason matches, D'Urso was constantly scanning for openings in the attacking third to exploit. And as a midfielder or defender left his post to cover an opponent or step out to make a challenge, he would immediately recognise it and duly motor into the unoccupied space. Upon receiving the ball in these dangerous areas, his skill and incisive passing regularly unlocked the defence.

His ability to read the game so expertly at his young age, in tandem with of all of his other positive attributes, should see the Italian youth international destined for a fantastic future at Roma.

Although he's still got plenty of improvement left in him, expect this gifted prodigy to make the step up to the first team sooner rather than later.

His talent should certainly see to that.