Calcio A 18/19: 5 exciting new youngsters to look out for this season

The summer transfer window is now well into its business end for most competitive leagues, and the Italian teams were not afraid to spend big. Both Milan clubs have splurged into the transfer market in order to mount a title challenge, while consecutive champions Juventus have signed arguably the best footballer of the modern era. Carlo Ancelotti has taken up the reigns at close runners-up Napoli, while Eusebio Di Francesco invested heavily in the future. Now without further ado, let's take a look at 5 of the most exciting new youngsters in this league.

#5 Fabián Ruiz (Real Betis to Napoli)

Spain U-21midfielder Fabián Ruiz Peña (£27m) was brought in as a direct replacement for the outgoing Jorginho. Fabián, who created 30 chances and had an average pass accuracy of 87%, would make life easier for fellow midfielders Marek Hamšík and Allan and help set up more shots on target for their feared frontline of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne, and José Callejón. Fabián's arrival also means that Zielinski and Diawara have stiff competition to cement their place in the starting lineup, something Ancelotti would count on in order to maximize the potential of this title challenging Napoli squad.

#4 Lautaro Martinez (Racing Club to Inter Milan)

Lautaro Martinez (left) and Mauro Icardi (right) during an Inter training session

Argentinian sensation Lautaro Martinez (£20m) makes his way into the Inter lineup this season, partnering fellow Argentinian Icardi in a threatening frontline. Lautaro comes off the back of a stellar season, scoring 13 and assisting 4 last season. Martinez can form a strike partnership with Icardi, as well as play the role of a lone striker effectively. Despite only being 174cm tall, he has proven to be an aerial threat to defenders, and can even bag some stunning headers. He has already made his mark with his new team, scoring an incredible acrobatic kick from Kwadwo Asamoah's cross against Atletico Madrid in the recently concluded International Champions Cup, and with 22 key passes made and 38 successful dribbles, Lautaro is certainly one to look out for next season.

#3 Justin Kluivert (Ajax Amsterdam to AS Roma)

Kluivert (left) playing in a pre-season friendly against US Latina Calcio

Dutch prodigy Justin Kluivert (£15.2m) transferred to the Italian capital after a long-term association with his boyhood club Ajax, a very cheap transfer fee considering today's crazy transfer market. Kluivert recently won the NxGn award for the world's best teenage talent, surpassing AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnaruma and the latest Real Madrid wunderkind Vinicius Jr for the coveted prize. His pace and ability on the ball would be of concern for the opposition, scoring 10 goals and assisting 5 in 30 games last season. This pre-season, Kluivert has already provided an assist in the three matches he's played so far and would be looking forward to starting his first ever Calcio A season on a high.

#2 Alban Lafont (Toulouse to Fiorentina)

Lafont during a match with his old club Toulouse

At just 19 years, Burkina Faso-French goalkeeper Alban Lafont had already established himself as Toulouse's man behind the posts. He has made over 100 appearances and has survived multiple relegation playoffs with the club. His quality and skill on the goal-line are not questionable, with 12 clean sheets in the league and 2 out of 2 clean sheets in the recent French relegation playoffs. After making a name for himself, Lafont found himself on the radar of some of the most prestigious Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Crystal Palace. Lafont himself had even hinted interest in Arsenal after citing Robin van Persie as the main reason he liked the club, but he has instead decided to continue his growth at Florence. The exciting youngster is expected to be Fiorentina's no. 1 for the upcoming season, but only time will tell how he fares in the new season.

#1 João Cancelo (Valencia CF to Juventus)

Portuguese fullback João Cancelo unveiled as a new Juventus signing

João Cancelo is a familiar name to Italian football fans, having spent last season at Inter Milan on loan from Valencia. He now makes his way to Turin after Juve confirmed first-choice right-back Stefan Litchsteiner joined Arsenal on a free transfer this summer. Cancelo made 3 assists, and 1,235 passes with a pass completion rate of 84% last season, something to look forward to for Juventus fans. The 24-year-old has been an instrumental player for his national side ever since their Euro 2016 triumph, scoring three goals in the seven appearances he made. His defensive contributions to Los Che has been improving drastically in recent seasons, showcasing his long passing and playmaking abilities with tenacity. Cancelo has all the attributes of a modern day fullback and his presence in the Juventus squad will certainly be felt.