Inter Milan's Davide Santon: A Legend in the Making

18-year old Inter full back Davide Santon has quickly risen through the ranks and emerged as one of Italy’s brightest young prospects. The Inter starlet has already been dubbed the “new Paolo Maldini” who along with his speed, technique and calm composure boasts the qualities of that of a player well mature beyond his years.

“Il Bambino”, as Inter Milan tactician José Mourinho so affectionately calls him, is a product of the club’s youth academy.  The Italian began as a winger and played a pivotal part in the club’s Primavera success in the season of 2007/2008.

That same year Primavera coach Vincenzo Esposito employed him as a left back during the club’s participation in the championship finals in Abruzzo. José Mourinho had seen enough and during that same summer decided to take the youngster to training with the rest of the senior squad.

Italy has a tradition of shipping off their rising stars on loan to other clubs in the lower divisions or the so called “minnows” to gain experience, but Mourinho surprised everybody when he decided not to give just Santon, but also his fellow Primavera player Mario Balotelli, the chance to prove themselves during the previous season.

Santon made his senior team debut on January 21 in the tricky Coppa Italia clash against, what has in recent years become a rather classic opponent, AS Roma. The 18-year old impressed greatly in his first real outing in the Inter shirt and earned the praise of both his coach and also captain Javier Zanetti after the game.

The left back earned the confidence of Mourinho to such as extent that he managed to pass regular full back Maxwell to the bench as his success story continued. Santon even went on to play a full 90 minutes in high profile clashes as took the left back position against local rivals AC Milan in the prestigious “Derby della Madonnina”.

On top of that Santon also played in both Champions League fixes against Manchester United where he came up against none other than 2008 Ballon D’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo—and managed to walk off the field with his head held high after yet another impressive outing.

There was little doubt that Inter in their possession had a player destined for greatness.

On March 31 2009 the youngster was called up to the Azzurrini by coach Pierluigi Casiraghi as they prepared to take on the Netherlands.

However, Santon didn’t really have time to leave his mark on the U-21 side before Marcello Lippi called him up the Gli Azzurri on June 6th to play in a friendly against Northern Ireland. Ahead of the youngster’s debut the former Juventus tactician had only positive words to say;

“I had said he was destined for great things and, now that I’ve seen him train and play up close, I can confirm I was right,” smiled the Italy Coach.

“Santon is a kid, but he has great character, is at ease with the ball and capable of placing himself within a tactical framework.”

Lippi fielded him on the right back position that evening where he did not only play a full 90 minutes but also excel beyond expectations. After the game an elated Lippi hailed the teenager;

"Santon was outstanding, he has intelligence to understand that he is a good player, and he has not wasted time in showing it,“ Lippi said to Rai Uno.

While players his senior will be taking part in the U-21 championship in Sweden the Inter starlet is set to help La Nazionale to another triumph in the summer’s Confederation’s Cup.

Santon already plays exceptionally well on the full back positions on either side but could probably impress even further if he was moved up the flanks as a winger – allowing him to have an even bigger impact on the game.

The Inter youth product has in the course of one year taken the almost unimaginable leap from playing the Inter Primavera team to representing Italy’s national side.

This story of success is only in its early stages and that Santon is headed for greatness is almost tantalisingly easy to predict. The defender possesses the kind of attitude and personality that could ultimately lead him to become another of Italy’s greats and I’m positive that we’re watching a legend in the making.