Stepping Up: Our Primavera breakout stars this season

The 2020-21 campaign has been a notable one for a number of Roma’s Primavera squad, with no fewer than eight members going on to feature in the senior side over the course of the campaign.

But how have the likes of Riccardo Calafiori and Ebrima Darboe fared when making the jump up to the Giallorossi’s professional roster?

Let’s take a look…

Riccardo Calafiori
Age: 19
Position: Left-back
First team appearances in 2020-21: 8

Having made his professional debut in the 3-1 win at Juventus on the final day of 2019-20, Calafiori was moved into the first team fold permanently to serve as understudy to Leonardo Spinazzola ahead of this term.

And evidence suggests the 19-year-old left-back would have made more than his eight appearances were it not for injuries and a bout of Covid-19 midway through the campaign.

Three of those outings came in Serie A, with five more in the Europa League, where Calafiori opened his goalscoring account with a screamer in the Group A victory over Young Boys at the Stadio Olimpico in December.

His assist for Edin Dzeko's home goal against Ajax - which effectively sent the Giallorossi into the semi-finals - was a high point at a crucial moment in the campaign, auguring well for Calafiori's future at this level.

Ebrima Darboe
Age: 19
Position: Defensive midfielder
First team appearances in 2020-21: 6

Darboe made a matchday squad for the first time in October 2019 but had to wait until May of this year to get a chance on the pitch - only to deliver a string of impressive performances for the seniors at the tail end of this season.

Darboe's story is an incredible one, with the teenager arriving in Italy on his own as a migrant at just 14 - and his rise to the pro ranks will warm the coldest of cockles.

His fairytale continued with starring roles in wins over both Manchester United and Lazio as Darboe has seized the opportunity presented to him in the absence of Amadou Diawara and Jordan Veretout.

Coach Paulo Fonseca praised the youngster for changing the way his team played when on the pitch - no small praise for a young player - and it will be interesting how he continues to blossom next term.

Tommaso Milanese
Age: 18
Position: Central midfielder
First team appearances in 2020-21: 3

Eighteen-year-old Milanese is another who has taken his chances with both hands when called-up to the first team.

Although yet to make his Serie A debut (he’s made two matchday squads), Milanese created Pedro’s strike to make it 5-0 in the Europa League back in November to mark his professional debut in style.

The Italy youth international was on the scoresheet himself in his third appearance – and first start – as he bagged Roma’s only goal in the 3-1 defeat to CSKA Sofia.

Recently back largely with the Under-19s, he will be hoping to drive Alberto De Rossi's side on a deep run in the playoffs this summer.

Nicola Zalewski
Age: 19
Position: Attacking midfielder
First team appearances in 2020-21: 2

With seven goals and five assists in 17 Primavera matches this term, Zalewski graduated to the pros with a 14-minute cameo against United in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final - getting the last Roma touch on what was subsequently ruled an own goal in the 3-2 win.

The Poland Under-20 international then laid on Borja Mayoral’s 90th-minute effort in the 5-0 league win over Crotone three days later.

Zalewski was on the bench for the two subsequent Serie A matches and, likely to be included for the travelling party for Sunday's season-ender against Spezia too, has clearly edged himself into the first-team setup.

Filippo Tripi
Age: 19
Position: Defensive midfielder
First team appearances in 2020-21: 2

Primavera skipper Tripi added 14 minutes of senior football to his 2,054 minutes of youth team action with a pair of Europa League cameos.

Tripi made his Roma debut with a six-minute runout in the 2-0 win at Cluj, and also featured for eight minutes of the aforementioned defeat in Bulgaria.

The young central midfielder is highly thought of and will be earmarked for more opportunities sooner rather than later. Helping his Primavera teammates to a national crown this summer would certainly help in that regard.

Edoardo Bove
Age: 19
Position: Central midfielder
First team appearances in 2020-21: 1

Bove has played in central midfield, attacking midfield and even on the right for the Primavera in 2020-21.

But he slotted into the familiar surrounds of the centre of the park when he replaced Darboe against Crotone earlier this month.

After being an unused substitute on three occasions in Europe, that late Matchday 35 appearance was Bove’s professional bow. Judging by his comments after that match, he wants it to be the first of many more to come at this level.

Mory Bamba
Age: 18
Position: Winger
First team appearances in 2020-21: 1

The Ivorian only made the move to the Primavera from the U18s at the start of the season, with the 18-year-old scoring twice in eight games for the second string.

Despite his inexperience - even at Primavera level - Bamba started from an unusual left wing-back role against Sofia and coped well in his 62 minutes on the pitch.

He may not have been called up to a matchday squad since as more senior players returned to form and fitness, but he will surely be looking to press his case for further opportunities when the 2021-22 season comes around.

Pietro Boer
Age: 19
Position: Goalkeeper
First team appearances in 2020-21: 1

The sole goalkeeper on this list, the Italian stopper has four clean sheets from 14 games for the Primavera.

Davide Mastrantonio has largely been between the Primavera sticks when Boer hasn’t, with the latter teenager part of that youthful side that travelled to Sofia.

His first team debut lasted the full 90 minutes and Boer has been on the bench a further 10 times in Europe (four) and Serie A (six), with those appearances causing him to miss some Primavera engagements.

The return of Daniel Fuzato and signing of the experienced Simone Farelli in January has reduced the need for Boer among the first-team ranks - but with time certainly on his side Boer will surely be delighted with the progress he has already made.

Honourable mentions…

American teenager Bryan Reynolds has also managed five Serie A games since joining the club in the January transfer window, and a further seven Primavera players have been on the first team bench without yet making it on the pitch.

Goalkeeper Nicola Berti, Riccardo Ciervo, Amir Feratovic, Raul Morichelli, Suf Podgoreanu, Ruben Providence and Lamine Tall have all been unused Giallorossi substitutes and they could all feasibly be looking to take the next steps in their career in 2021-22.