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From Bergamo to the Premier League: How two academy friends made it to the world’s biggest stage
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From Bergamo to the Premier League: How two academy friends made it to the world’s biggest stage

19/12/24 12:38

Today, Manchester United faces Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup Quarter Finals, a huge clash between two sides coming off statement wins in the Premier League last weekend. But a story going under the radar at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight is that of two academy kids in Italy.

Despite neither being of Italian heritage, Dejan Kulusevski and Amad Diallo both ended up in Northern Italy as a part of Atalanta’s academy. Diallo grew up in Italy after emigrating from Côte d'Ivoire as a child. Kulusevski on the other hand decided to move from Stockholm to Southern Europe at the age of 16, in order to chase his dream and develop his footballing knowledge.

La Dea's impressive academy

Atalanta B.C.’s academy has seen many names leave its doors in recent years, along with the two aforementioned, including the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, Franck Kessie, and Manolo Gabbiadini as well as recent Leicester signing Caleb Okoli. It is therefore no surprise that La Dea have produced two of the hottest attacking outlets in the Premier League right now. But the journey was not simple for either…

In an interview with Hayters TV this week, Spurs’ star Swede spoke on his former classmate saying: “His talent is unbelievable, he’s been by far one of their best players this season. He has so much talent”. He then went on to reminisce on his time at Atalanta which was shared with Diallo saying: “Atalanta was a beautiful football club, they knew their talent.” Their careers however date further back than when the pair lifted the Italian national youth championship trophy in the 2018/19 season.

Amad's Early Origins

Spending the early years of his life in Côte d'Ivoire’s capital Abidjan, Diallo was part of a local youth club named Leader Foot Academy. He then moved to Emilia-Romagna in Italy around the age of 12, joining local amateur side Boca Barco Calcio. After a couple of years, he was involved in a few trials at various Serie A clubs before eventually settling with Atalanta. From there on he honed his dribbling skills, close control, and eye for goal. He made his debut for the senior side at 17, coming off the bench in a 7-1 win against Udinese in October 2019. Just a year later in October 2020, Manchester United agreed to a €21 million deal for the Ivorian and a move to England was imminent.

After a slight legal issue involving Diallo’s emigration to Italy, which questioned the genuineness of his biological relationship with his so-called parents and brother, the player arrived in Manchester. He made his debut in February 2021 away at Real Sociedad and went on to make eight appearances in the second half of the 20/21 season. After falling out of favour, loan moves to Rangers and Sunderland were required, before returning to the club last season. However, it is this campaign where the winger has truly flourished.

Kulusevski's time in Sweden and Italy

As Amad moved up to Italy, Kulusevski moved down from Scandinavia. Born in Stockholm to Macedonian parents, ‘Deki’ was raised with the Balkan mentality. This was reflected in his early years playing for IF Brommapojkarna’s academy for 10 years from the age of six. IF Brommapojkarna is known for its academy, it is also the largest football club in Europe in terms of the number of active youth teams of all ages. Moving to North Italy was not easy for Kulusevski as he was older than Diallo and had lived in Sweden for 16 years. But it paid off as unlike Amad - who was snapped up by the Premier League at an early age - Kulusevski established himself in Serie A on loan at Parma, and then permanently at Juventus.

After his career began to decline in Turin, a move elsewhere was needed. He described in his self-written article for the Players Tribune how he simply “had to get away” so after requesting a change of scene, Tottenham came calling. Initially there on an 18-month loan worth €10 million, the deal was made permanent in 2023 for an additional €35 million. The Swede has had regular game time in London since joining in January 2022 but this season he has become even more integral to Postecoglou’s starting XI.

So far this season

To paint a picture of how important both players have been for their respective clubs this season, Diallo has appeared in 23 of United’s 25 matches so far, scoring four times and assisting six. This puts him among his side's top five scorers and second in assists, smashing his three goal contributions last season.

Kulusevski meanwhile has appeared in every single game for club and country this season, totalling in over 2000 minutes already. He has six goals and eight assists for Spurs and Sweden before the halfway point of the 24/25 campaign. This also puts him in Tottenham’s top five goalscorers as well as number one in the assist charts. He has therefore already scored more goals than he did in 23/24 and has equalled his assists. Vast improvements from both individuals.

Neither player’s seasons will be measured by trophies due to the nature of the clubs they play for, so it is therefore important to focus on their personal achievements. Kulusevski currently operates in an expressive role for Spurs, mainly part of a midfield three instead of on the wing like before. With two more defensive-minded midfielders alongside him, he can drift onto either flank to replace the wingers, as well as pretty much anywhere else on the pitch making him a creative spark.

Manchester United have not had a right winger with so much potential and influence at the club arguably since Mason Greenwood. With Amad Diallo, they have a player with raw potential who is still just 22, and with Alejandro Garnacho on the opposite wing, United might have a dangerous pairing going forward for the foreseeable future.

A statistical perspective

Diving further into the statistics, Kulusevski is third in the entire Premier League for shot-creating actions with 75 so far. On the other hand, Diallo is second in the Premier League for goal-creating actions with 13. Kulusevski is also seventh in the league for touches in the attacking third with 394. Diallo also leads the Manchester United squad for successful take-ons with 23.

Tonight's match

It is therefore evident that both young talents will continue to have ‘break out’ seasons becoming key attacking outlets at the club, and both will be on display tonight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The sides have met twice in 2024 playing out a 2-2 draw in January and a 3-0 win for Tottenham away at Old Trafford. The only question left is which former Atalanta academy kid will outshine the other in determining the outcome of the fixture. The match will be televised on Sky Sports at 8 pm GMT.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
James McLeish

Writer

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