Serie A: Top 10 Young Talents in Italy

Serie A is as competitive as ever and many clubs are investing in the globe's best young talent around.

In recent seasons, we've seen some of the world's best talents blossom in to world class players.

Take the Serie A young Footballer of the Year award for example.

In the last three years we have seen Marek Hamsik, Alexandre Pato and, last year, Javier Pastore claim this prestigious award that was previously only ever won by Italians.

Serie A is now a hotbed for the best young players in the world, and it's competitive enough to satisfy the players' ambition as well as provide ample game time.

By "young players," we are talking about 21 years old or younger, as it is between 19 years old and this age that players begin to break through in Italy, given that most players younger than this or even at the same age (but less precociously talented) are playing with the Primavera team, which Serie A clubs are happy to see their players do until their mid-twenties.

So lets take a look at ten of the best around the peninsula.

10. Victor Ibarbo, 21, Cagliari

Victor Ibarbo signed for Cagliari this summer from Colombia side Atletico Nacional.

The 21-year-old has impressed in Cagliari's brilliant start to the season and looks to be pushing for a place in the first team in the not too distant future.

He had earlier signed for Udinese for $4 million in 2009, but the deal collapsed and Ibarbo continued with Atletico Nacional, making almost 100 appearances.

He has frightening pace and speed on the ball, having impressed many in preseason tests in Sardinia by sprinting 100m in less than 10.5 seconds.

Ibarbo has already made his debut for the highly talented Colombian national team, and he looks set to make a big name for himself in the future.

9. Adem Llajic, 20, Fiorentina

Adem Llajic is a skillful trequartista capable of unlocking some of the toughest defences around.

The Serbian was very close to signing for Manchester United in 2009 when a deal was agreed for his arrival in 2010 together with ex-Partizan team mate Zoran Tosic.

The deal collapsed and allowed Fiorentina to steal in to claim the mercurial talent for €8 million.

This season appears to be the making of the player dubbed the "Serbian Kaka" with compatriot Sinisa Mihajlovic as manager giving Llajic more playing time.

It remains to be seen if his exploits at Partizan can translate to the top level but Partizan Director of Football Ivan Tomic has stated that he "thinks that they (Manchester United) will regret this decision (not signing Llajic)."

8. Gaston Ramirez, 20, Bologna

Gaston Ramirez can play in any attacking position, out wide, in behind a striker or alongside a partner.

The Uruguayan has been attracting interest from Liverpool, and looks set for a big future.

Bologna are struggling at the moment, but the upside is the playing time he will experience this season that he may not at a bigger club.

Signed from Penarol in 2010, Ramirez has scored four times in 27 appearances for the Rossoblu and also appeared seven times for the Uruguayan national team.

7. Coutinho, 19, Inter Milan

Coutinho burst on to the scene when Rafael Benitez was in charge for his short spell with the Nerazzurri.

Coutinho was dubbed by the Spaniard and President Massimo Moratti as "the future of Inter."

The Brazilian blossomed in the Champions League with an impressive display against Bayern Munich as Inter claimed a remarkable 3-2 victory with Coutinho lavishly praised.

The Carioca has played just once for the Selecao in a friendly against Iran, but was integral in the Brazil side that won the 2011 World U20 Cup.

Since the arrival of Claudio Ranieri this season, Coutinho has been given more playing time and, whilst still only being 19 years old, he can have a big impact with the Nerazzurri for many years to come.

6. Bojan Krkic, 21, Roma

Bojan Krkic burst on to the scene under Frank Rijkaard with Barcelona with an impressive 12 goals in his debut season as a 17-year-old.

Upon the arrival of Pep Guardiola and the emergence of Pedro Rodriguez, Bojan's opportunities became limited to substitute cameos.

He continued to score, putting in 29 more goals in the following three seasons, 41 in total for his first club in 163 games, but never threatened to claim a first team spot.

He was still rated highly, though, by the Blaugrana and once Roma had secured his signature for €12 million.

Barcelona immediately put in a buy-back clause after two seasons for a marginal profit on the sum paid by Roma.

Bojan scored his first goal against Atalanta and, under Luis Enrique, looks set to play a big role in the transformation of the Giallorossi this season.

5. Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, 20, Udinese

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has been the beneficiary of Udinese selling on star player Gokhan Inler.

The Ghanaian has slotted in to a three-man central midfield with ease and been handed responsibility by Francesco Guidolin in huge matches, such as the Champions League play-off against Arsenal.

A dynamic, tough-tackling defensive midfielder, Badu's energy has helped the Zebrette climb to joint top of Serie A.

Badu is already a fixture in the Ghana national team and has earned 12 caps, scoring twice for the Black Stars.

At just 20 years old, Badu has a great opportunity to become one of the best around in his position.

He has already shown great leadership qualities in being an integral part of the U20 Ghana side that won the World U20 cup in 2009 against Brazil in the final, becoming the first African team to do so at that level.

4. Abel Hernandez, 21, Palermo

Abel Hernandez is just the latest South American starlet to blossom with the Sicilian club Palermo.

Many thought that the Rosanero were crazy to sell his fellow countryman, Edinson Cavani, to Napoli, but Hernandez, whilst not quite on Cavani's level yet, is proving he has the ability to be one of the best strikers in Serie A.

The Uruguayan has 17 goals in 62 games thus far, but there is plenty of optimism that he could become far more prolific.

Already scoring twice this season, and a record of three goals in eight games for the Celeste, leads most to believe that Palermo are sitting on another diamond who could potentially be sold for a very lucrative profit in the future.

3. Gabriel Torje, 21, Udinese

Gabriel Torje was signed this summer from Dinamo Bucuresti, and was instantly expected to fill the boots of the phenomenon, Alexis Sanchez, who signed for Barcelona this summer.

Torje has instantly struck up chemistry with the Zebrette marksman, Antonio Di Natale, and been integral to the Friulani sitting joint-top of Serie A.

The Romanian is already being linked away, such is his success, with Juventus claiming they will take him next summer.

A clever playmaker who has the ability to dribble the ball and draw defenders out of position before slipping a through ball to his partner, Torje is a rare commodity.

He has already scored three times in 13 games for the Romanian national team, and the predicted €4 million with a further €3 million in add-ons seems to be yet another bargain, proving that, with proper investment in scouting, there is no need to pay the excessive transfer fees. 

2. Stephan El Shaarawy, 18, AC Milan

Stephan El Shaarawy signed from Genoa on a co-ownership deal this summer.

The fee for just 50% of his rights was a reportedly huge €10 million for such a young player.

There is plenty of competition at Milan with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Antonio Cassano, Alexandre Pato and Robinho clearly ahead of the former Padova star, and Pippo Inzaghi still keen to continue his illustrious career.

Given the injury crisis at Milan this season, El Shaarawy got his chance, coming on for the injured Alexandre Pato with his side 1-0 down at home to Udinese.

El Shaarawy saved the Rossoneri with a well taken strike to claim a point.

His exploits with Padova last season in Serie B prompted Milan to sign him with nine goals and six man of the match displays.

1. Erik Lamela, 19, Roma

The Argentina star is one of the most talented players in the world, and he garnered a mammoth €19 million fee for Roma to claim him from, by then, second division Argentine side River Plate.

The Buenos Aires giants heaped an enormous amount of pressure on the teenager to save them from relegation, but the team's ineptitude meant it was an impossible task.

Lamela is a splendid playmaker capable of finding any team mate on the pitch with an array of champagne passes.

His lack of success with River, in relative terms, should not worry Giallorossi supporters, given that he will improve with better players around him.

He scored three times in four games for the Argentina U20 side, and he has already played for the Albiceleste.

Big things are expected from Lamela.

The style of play that Luis Enrique is generating at Roma is perfectly suited to his game and should ensure a smooth transition for the Argentine and give him the platform to fulfil his outrageous talent.

Let me know your thoughts on any talented young players I have omitted or those included in the list that you feel should be higher or lower.

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