Conti, Chiesa, Maldini, Totti, Cannavaro, Pagliuca, Sottil. But also Thuram, Weah, Simeone, Montero, Stankovic, Amauri. Names that have meant a lot in the Italian football championship and which, perhaps, are destined to mean even in the future. Everyone knows and remembers the ‘holders’ of those surnames. And everyone looks carefully and with a little nostalgic hope to those players who today tread the fields trying to repeat the deeds of their fathers (and/or grandfathers). Alongside those who have already demonstrated that they have the same DNA as their father – read Federico Chiesa of Juventus, son of Enrico, European champion with Italy – there are others who have yet to show their value. Starting with the striker Daniel Maldini, Paolo’s son and Cesare’s nephew, owned by Milan and on loan to Empoli. Then there is Matthias Pagliuca, son of Gianluca: his father was a goalkeeper, while his son, owned by Bologna, is a striker. The latest arrivals have really important names. Starting with Marcus Thuram, son of Lilian, born and raised in Parma when his father played in Emilia, before moving to Juventus. When he seemed about to move to Milan, the player made an agreement with Inter. He arrived on a free transfer after his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach expired. Forward born in 1997, in the last season he played 32 games, scoring 16 goals. Then there’s Timothy Weah, born in 2000, right winger son of George, Liberian striker, symbol of African football and Ballon d’Or in 1995, idol of AC Milan fans between 1995 and 2000. Juventus took him to Serie A , buying him from Lille for 12 million and giving him a five-year contract.
The third son of art arriving in Italy in this market session is Juan Manuel Cruz, son of Julio, former forward of Bologna, Inter and Lazio. Born in 1999, he is a very physically structured striker who is currently under contract with Banfield, but Verona have a contract ready for him until June 2027 starting from January 2024.
Eleven years after the farewell of Amauri Carvalho de Oliveira, his son, Hugo de Oliveira, who has become a Lecce player, will run on the football fields in Serie A. Born in Rome in 2006 and forward like his father, Hugo played in France for Thonon.
Juventus has found Paolo Montero since 2022 to whom it has entrusted its youth team. With the former Juventus defender – he played from ’96 to 2005, 186 appearances and 1 goal – also came his son Alfonso, born in 2007, also a defender. The boy will play in the Juventus youth team.
Inter will find Filip again this year Stankovic. Son of Dejan, one of the protagonists of the Treble, Filip returned to the Nerazzurri after his experience in the Netherlands at Volendam. Despite having been in the Inter squad that won the 2020/21 Scudetto, he has never played for the first team.
Another son of a great former Inter player ready to make his debut in Serie A: Kevin Maussi Martins, just turned 18 and son of Obafemi ‘Oba Obà MartinsInter striker at the beginning of the 2000s, Kevin plays in the same role as his father, slimmer physique but with the same progression and confidence with the net, in January he left the Nerazzurri youth sector to move to Monza.
The Brianzas also welcome two sons of great perspective in the family: Franco and Valentin Carboni. Already armored at national level by Argentina – they have been called up by coach Scaloni – the sons of Ezequiel, a former Catania midfielder, will wear the Monza shirt in the 2023-2024 season. A much (too) expected name in Rome is that of Cristian Totti, the 17-year-old son of the former Giallorossi captain will leave the Roma Under 18 team and move to Frosinone where he will initially play in the Primavera of the Ciociaria club which is ready to launch him in its own Under 18 team.
Also in the Roma house, the arrival in football that counts – although not yet in the top category – of another son (and, above all, nephew) of art: Bruno Conti Jr.born in 2002, son of the former Cagliari flag Daniele and grandson of grandfather Bruno, authentic legend of Rome and world champion in 1982. He moved from Cagliari to Verona in 2022, after a year in Mantova in Serie C (with relative relegation to Serie C D) and a tendon operation returned to Verona.
Remaining in Italy, another son of an artist to keep under observation is Adrian Cannavarothe Sassuolo captain who triumphed in the 2021/22 edition of the Viareggio Cup, central defender like father Paolo and uncle Fabio, brothers with a very long career in Serie A. He is born in 2004
Then there’s the purple striker Riccardo Subtle, son of Andrea (former player and now coach of Udinese), a 24-year-old winger who underwent back surgery last season which kept him away from the pitch for several games. The player is on the market and Monza and Frosinone in Serie A are ready to sign him even on a temporary basis.
Alongside the ‘Italians’, in our Serie A there are also many foreign children of art whose surname makes many fans’ hearts beat faster. Starting with Giovanni Simeone, son of “Cholo” Diego, former champion of Lazio and Inter and current coach of Atletico Madrid, who has just signed a contract with Napoli until 2027.