Meet Pietro Pellegri, the 16-year-old wonderkid who scored twice for Genoa against Lazio in Serie A this weekend
Already youngest goal scorer and joint-youngest debutant in Serie A, youngster hit brace during defeat against Biancocelesti
ON THE final day of last season's Serie A, all eyes were on the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma were hosting Genoa in Francesco Totti's last-ever game — and with the Giallorossi netting a last-minute winner, there were celebrations all round.
However, something else special happened: Pietro Pellegri, a player 24 years the Italy legend's junior, became the youngest-ever Serie A goal scorer when he netted on his first professional start.
It saw him become the first player born in 2001 to score in Italy's top flight — weeks after Moise Kean had become the first class of 2000 goal-getter.
And, yesterday, he gave further glimpses of his talent with a two-goal showing against the other capital side Lazio.
Genoa, who lost star striker Giovanni Simeone to Fiorentina in the summer, have endured an indifferent start to the season.
And being a main striker light, means Pellegri could now be key for the remainder of the campaign.
His talent is well-known throughout Italy, and in the summer he was heavily linked with moves to Inter Milan and AC Milan.
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While his agent is reported to have been present for the epic home defeat to Juventus to discuss terms over a potential transfer to the Italian champions.
Pellegri has been compared to former Italy powerhouse striker Christian Vieri because of his 6"2 stature.
He made his debut at the age of 15 years and 280 days during a defeat at Torino — amazingly equalling the all-time record for Serie A's youngest player set by Roma's Amedeo Amadei in 1937.
There was certainly now shortage of pressure on the youngster, with former boss Gian Piero Gasperini likening the then 14-year-old to five-time Ballon d'Or-winner Lionel Messi.
He then immediately contradicted himself, and insisted it was his job to Pellergi's feet on the ground.
Speaking in 2015, he said: “I have with me the new Messi — I just hope he can keep level headed.”
Pellergi's father is first-team coach Marco, who was in tears on the bench following his son's goal scoring exploits during the defeat to Lazio.
Pellegri is the latest in a long line of hot talent coming out of Italian football.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is the most prominent, but team-mates Manuel Locatelli and Patrick Cutrone as well as another Genoa teen in Salcedo Mora, 15, are also tipped for bright futures.
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