RISCONE DI BRUNICO – Inter youth academy director Roberto Samaden has spoken of his delight at seeing so many youngsters with the first-team squad for the pre-season training camp in Brunico.
"It’s always great to see that our youngsters are being taken notice of – it’s a pleasure to see so many here," Samaden told Inter Channel on Friday.
"I especially want to single out Fabio Della Giovanna and Michele Di Gregorio, who have worked their way up all the way through the system. That said, it’s also great for lads like Pinamonti and Zonti, who joined us at 14, and the likes of Biabiany, Miangue and Radu, who came from abroad when they were 16. We have a different way of selecting our talent and we do it well.
"Di Gregorio and Radu? They’re both great goalkeepers and two smashing lads. I’m really pleased we’re continuing our tradition of having top goalies like Bardi, Belec and Di Gennaro. Pinamonti? Having a 17-year-old kid here for pre-season with the first team sends out a great message and the fact that he was chosen to model the new kit validates the work we do."
Samaden also spoke about Primavera boss Stefano Vecchi, who will once again be leading Inter’s U19s this year: "The whole club is delighted that he’s staying because he’s an extraordinary coach and it doesn’t surprise me that we had many approaches for him. We’re pleased he’s decided to stay for at least another year and long may he remain.
"There have been some changes in terms of the coaching set-up for the other teams – we’ve brought in people who’ve passed through the academy in the past like Matteo Lombardo, Tiziano Polenghi and Andrea Zanchetta. The strategy we’ve agreed on with Ausilio and Gardini is to focus on people who’ve represented Inter in the past and have shown loyalty to the club. We want to make the most of those resources.
"We’ve also improved our scouting system, bringing in a talented former Inter player in Gianfranco Matteoli. As well as running a new training centre in Sardinia, he’ll work as a scout in Italy and abroad. Benoit Cauet will also help to find talent in the U18 and U19 categories."
