Tuesday 20 November 2012

LORENZO CRISETIG

Who is he? Where does he play?

Crisetig is a 19 year old central midfielder currently with Inter Milan, or if you like your detail, learning his trade with North-West Liguria-based Serie B side Spezia on loan. With only one appearance for his mother club to his name, a single minute Champions League substitute cameo, the young Italian will have to display the patience of a mother queuing for a bus with a troublesome child his as he bides his time for integration into Andrea Strammacioni's regular thinking.

Not very experienced?

Not at senior level no.... despite being on the fringes of the Internazionale squad since the days of Jose Mourinho (the Portuguese included the teenager in various Champions League squads), his successors Rafa Benitiez, Leonardo, Gian Pierro Gasperini and now Stramaccioni have resisted his claims for a go in the first team. It was Claudio Ranieri who gave Crisetig his only minute of senior football, coming on for Christian Chivu against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.

What about youth level?

Oh yeah, Crisetig is a seasoned pro at youth level, how's that for a paradox eh? Representing Italy at under-16,17,18,19 and 21 level, the latter for whom he became the youngest ever player, and being a regular member of Inter Milan's Primavera team (the Italian term for reserve squad) with whom he won the new fangled Next-Gen series in 2011. He also won the much coveted Torneo di Viareggio with Inter's team of teenagers. What do you mean you haven't heard of it?

Will he make it at Inter?

If Stramaccioni shares the same views about him as the coaches of his Italian youth level teams, then yes, he would, especially with Inter still under a transitional period following the trophy-laden years of Jose Mourinho and earlier, Roberto Mancini. Perluigi Casiraghi said of him "Crisetig is a player of important attributes", whilst his successor Paulo Ferrara gushed "Lorenzo has a great personality and responded to the task at hand" after playing a vital role in the Azzuri under-21's 3-1 victory over Sweden.

What can he do then?

For a fair-haired Italian who conforms to the exotic stereotype, Crisetig is deceptively physical in the centre of midfield and is effective at recycling possession through his robust style. Forever looking for the ball, he helps play to tick over in the engine room (cliches galore!!) mainly owing to the enviable wizadry of his left foot and impressive vision, meaning the 19 year ol can both hold and create as a central-midfield force.

No comments:

Post a Comment