MILAN – The Nerazzurri’s youth academy director Roberto Samaden was a guest on Sky’s 'Top Young 24'. After receiving
compliments for the excellent work that has been done at Inter in recent years,
as well as the results that have been achieved, he responded to those who asked
which youngsters should be followed now that the transfer window is open:
"In Italy there are interesting young players; both at Inter and at other
teams. We’re keeping an eye on them. We’ve been taking this work seriously for
years, with lots of devotion. This year, between the league, the Coppa Italia
and the Europa League, 8 lads from the 1993 and 1994 classes have made their
debuts with the first team. The important thing is to let them grow. Is the
most difficult aspect with young players the relationship with their parents?
No, I wouldn’t say that. On the contrary, they’re often a great resource because
they keep up with their children so much and make our job easier. The difficult
thing is the step from the youth team to the first team. The step is too big,
most of all on a psychological level, and this makes it take a long time for
the breakthrough to occur."
Regarding Ibrahima Mbaye, the Nerazzurri youth product who was also a guest on
the programme, he stated: "Ibrahima is a good lad. He’s serious and
humble, and his progression to the first team was serious and humble as well.
Is Balotelli the biggest talent to come out of our academy? As regards recent
times, probably yes. Regarding my experience at Inter, I think he was the one
who most quickly made the transition to the first team."
Samaden then ended on the need for a reform of the youth academy: "I was talking to a colleague of mine about it the other day. The problem is that of having an in-between step that keeps the boys from going abroad for experience. They could get to the first team more quickly by playing with a second team. The transfer market? I don’t deal with those matters. You’d have to ask Marco Branca and Piero Ausilio, since it’s their area."
