Having recently watched the UEFA Youth League match between Inter Milan U19 and Liverpool U19, I noticed several standout players worth further scouting. Here is a breakdown of what these players showed, specifically in their 5-0 win over Liverpool U19:
- CB – Leonardo Bovio
- CDM – Pietro La Torre
- LW – Aymen Zouin
Leonardo Bovio:
Bovio, a 2008-born defender from Vercelli, Italy, is already an Italian U18 international, receiving his first callups in September 2025. Having quickly progressed through the Inter Milan youth ranks, Bovio currently plays with the Inter Milan U20 side in the Italian Primavera 1 (the top youth league in the country). He will turn 18 years old in a month’s time and is already looking like he is on the path to regular senior football. While still requiring muscle development, Bovio stands at 1.87m tall at 17 years old, a good frame for a centreback. What impressed me the most in the Liverpool match was his anticipation and reading of the game. This player has a real understanding of the game of football, and can anticipate opposition moves several actions in advance. Bovio’s positioning was rock-solid, allowing him to constantly be in position to pressure attackers, make blocks, or intercept the ball. If a club is looking for a CB who can turn defense into attack quickly, Bovio is who they want. I noticed him anticipate a pass, step up quickly, make the interception, and immediately look forward with his next action, countless times in this match. He has the first touch and ball control to do so without committing turnovers, and is comfortable taking a dribble if it is the most likely way he will progress the ball forward.
Bovio was very reliable in the passing game in this match, in both short and medium range passing – with accurate and well-weighted passes to teammates. He could stand to work on attempting more long passes, especially within this Inter team setup. As the RCB, Bovio was in the perfect position to attempt longer, diagonal switches to his LW, the to-be-discussed Zouin, who was a constant threat to the Liverpool defence. Bovio completed 3/4 long passes in this match, but could have created even more chances for his side if he attempted more. It is possible that he just prefers playing shorter and remaining involved in the Inter attacking move, but further scouting is required to assess his long passing. Bovio had impressive jumping reach for this match, was never beaten in an aerial duel, and only conceded 2 fouls in the match. As mentioned, his very strong positioning and game sense provides the foundation for Bovio to have a significant impact on a match from the back.
From what I observed in this match, Bovio has all the makings of a future Serie A CB, and if given the proper development path, could well become a senior Italian international in the future. With CB’s, it is hard to gauge potential at such a young age. It is very rare for a teenage CB to be playing senior top flight football (think Luka Vuskovic, for one), which is often the best way to assess their future potential. At the youth level, CB’s are likely to have even more of a physical advantage over attackers than at senior level. I would be very excited to see Leonardo Bovio be given some minutes with Inter’s senior team, or given a loan move so that he can obtain valuable first-team senior experience. He looks capable of playing in the Italian Serie B/C already, with a much higher ceiling than that. Keep an eye on Leonardo Bovio’s progression, I know I will be.
Current Ability Estimate: Serie B squad player
Potential Ability Estimate: Italian Senior National Team starter
Pietro La Torre:
A tempo-setting, match-controlling defensive midfielder might not be everyone’s favourite type of player, but their importance to a team cannot be understated. In this role, Pietro La Torre shines. Inter set up in a 4-3-3 for this match, but with La Torre playing as a halfback in possession. When Inter had the ball, La Torre would often drop between his two CB’s, providing the calm presence of an orchestra conductor and allowing them to impact the wider areas of the pitch in buildup. A conductor is really the best way to describe Pietro La Torre’s playstyle. He moves his teammates around the pitch with his positioning, seems to know what the opposition will try to do in attack before they do it, and has a great understanding of tempo. With a high level of composure on the ball, and a near unlimited passing range, La Torre has the freedom to take any option available to him, making him unpredictable and harder to defend.
While primarily considering rest defence in his attacking positioning, Pietro La Torre was able to provide ample contribution around the 18-yard box. As Inter tried to break through the Liverpool defensive line, La Torre offered himself as an easy option for teammates under pressure to pass to, before keeping the ball moving. Off a corner, he even delivered a truly top-class goal from the volley, one that required ample technical ability to pull off: kills a low driven cross from Zouin and sets the ball up perfectly for his volley with a single touch, before smashing it off the post and in.
If there’s something that Pietro La Torre is lacking, it is perhaps flair, which isn’t necessarily a bad weakness to have in his role. He knows what he wants to do, and he gets it done. It might not always look flashy, but his effectiveness cannot be denied. Based on what I saw in this match, La Torre has the potential to have a successful career in Serie A, or perhaps at an even higher level. He was named Man of the Match for good reason in this fixture, and looks to be a very exciting prospect. I do not believe Inter need to splash the cash on a midfield replacement when say, Calhanoglu decides he’s finally getting to old to play football.
Current Ability Estimate: Serie B starter
Potential Ability Estimate: Top 5 Leagues starter/Italian Senior International
Aymen Zouin:
The final standout prospect from the Inter U19’s team that I will be introducing today is 19 year old winger Aymen Zouin. Standing at 1.85m tall, Zouin has a relatively tall frame for a winger, which helps him in physical duels. A very creative player with flair in excess, Zouin has a desire to beat his man in a 1v1 situation, something that is becoming more of a rarity in modern wingers. He uses his acceleration and agility well to constantly change direction when attacking, remaining unpredictable. During this match Zouin was a nightmare for the Liverpool defence, especially on Inter counter-attacks. He showed an impressive sense of offensive positioning and was often in space to receive a long pass with room to attack. Zouin’s off the ball runs were very effective, choosing the right moments to break forward. Zouin was able to draw fouls consistently, without committing any in this match. He showed solid delivery with both feet on multiple occasions in this match, although he does need to work on getting his crosses in quicker, at times allowing the defender to recover and block the cross.
Zouin also had set-piece responsibilities for his Inter side, which he made good use of with an excellent assist for the Pietro La Torre goal. When he found himself in position to shoot, Zouin showed a solid finishing ability, consistently taking accurate shots that required decent saves. While his dribbling and crossing ability requires some refinement, Aymen Zouin showed a very strong overall level of ability. Further scouting is required to properly assess things such as mental attributes, but there is definitely a player here. As a Moroccan U20 international already, I believe Zouin has a very good chance to become a senior Moroccan international in a few years.
Current Ability Estimate: Serie B/La Liga 2 regular starter
Potential Ability Estimate: Morocco Senior International, Top 5 League regular starter
While there were several impressive performances within this Inter team against Liverpool, I had to choose my top 3 standouts. Honorable mentions and players worth further scouting are:
- Mattia Marello (LB, 17 years old) – showed excellent crossing ability
- Yvan Maye (CB, 19 years old) – showed promise, but left game early with injury
- Matteo Farronato (GK, 17 years old) – very impressive foundation for a keeper this young
- Dilan Zarate (CM, 18 years old) – scored and showed promise, but left injured in the 22′
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! For any inquiries, please email me at scouting.futbird@gmail.com.
-LM
futbird 