Francesco Camarda Makes Starting Debut for AC Milan at 16
Italian forward Francesco Camarda, a Milan academy product, will make his first Serie A start this Saturday against Cagliari at just 16 years, 7 months, and 29 days old, putting him in the top three youngest starters for Milan. Only goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Giuseppe Sacchi debuted younger.
Camarda steps in due to Álvaro Morata’s absence, after the Spanish forward suffered a head injury in a collision with Serbian defender Strahinja Pavlovic, which required overnight hospitalization. With Tammy Abraham and Luka Jovic not fully fit, head coach Paulo Fonseca chose to start Camarda up front.
Though Camarda narrowly misses setting a new record, at 16 years and 244 days, he becomes the third-youngest Milan starter. Donnarumma debuted just two days earlier at 16 years and 242 days, while Sacchi achieved it at 16 years and 232 days back in the 1940s. Camarda also ranks tenth overall in Serie A's youngest starters list, with the all-time record held by Amadeo Amadei, who debuted for Roma at 15 years and 288 days.
If he scores, Camarda could become the youngest Serie A scorer in Milan’s history. Last season, he set the league’s record as the youngest debutant, playing in Milan’s match against Fiorentina on November 25, 2023, at just 15 years, 8 months, and 15 days, surpassing the previous record set by Wisdom Amey in 2021. Camarda’s Champions League debut came on October 22 against Club Brugge at San Siro, making him the youngest Italian to play in the tournament, surpassing Moise Kean’s record at 16 years, 7 months, and 12 days.