Italian football continues to question its future, and one of the most obvious issues concerns the space given to young players. Data from the 2025/26 season confirms a structural trend: Under-21s are struggling to find minutes in Serie A, with numbers that remain among the lowest in Europe’s top leagues.

The “chosen” few in Serie A: minutes concentrated on a handful of names

The first statistic is clear: the minutes played by Under-21s in Serie A are concentrated on very few players. Leading the way is Marco Palestra with over 2,600 minutes, followed by Davide Bartesaghi and Pietro Comuzzo, all over 1,500.

Other names like Cher Ndour, Francesco Pio Esposito, and Honest Ahanor round out a top 10 that, however, highlights a key aspect: these are exceptions, not the system.

Actual data confirms this picture. For example, Cagliari has given over 2,600 minutes to Palestra, while other teams, such as Juventus, Parma, and Verona, have given zero minutes to Italian Under-21s this season. This imbalance reflects a league in which few young players find consistency, while most remain on the sidelines.

Compared to Serie B: More Space, More Development

If we look at Serie B, the situation changes radically. The data shows how several Under-21s far exceed 2,000 minutes, with peaks approaching 3,000 (Palmisani, Di Mario, Favasuli).

This points to a completely different ecosystem: in Serie B, young players play, make mistakes, and grow. In Serie A, however, the perceived risk often leads to conservative decisions. The difference is not only quantitative but also qualitative: playing consistently allows talents to develop real skills, while remaining on the bench inevitably slows their progress.

It’s no coincidence that many Italian prospects emerge precisely through minor leagues or experiences abroad, where the environment is more favorable for growth.

The most alarming statistic: below 10% everywhere

The third statistic is the most significant. No Serie A team has exceeded 10% of minutes allocated to Under-21s in recent years. Some big clubs even dip below 1%.

According to the most recent analyses, the overall percentage of minutes for Italian Under-21s is stuck at around 1.9%, an extremely low figure by European standards. The international comparison is also merciless: clubs like Barcelona and PSG easily exceed 10-15%, demonstrating that competitiveness and the development of young players can coexist.

In Italy, however, the average age remains high (around 28) and playing time is dominated by foreign players, a sign of a system that struggles to invest in local talent. (Sofascore Italia Instagram)

A problem for the national team too

The most direct consequence of this scenario concerns the talent pipeline. The Under-21 national team, historically one of the most successful in Europe, risks becoming increasingly less competitive if its players don’t gain high-level experience.

The problem isn’t just technical, but cultural: in Italy, there’s still a tendency to prioritize immediate reliability over long-term development.

Yet European models prove the opposite. Teams that invest in young players not only nurture talent, but also achieve great sporting results.

Change approach or fall behind

The data is clear: few Under-21s play in Serie A, and those few occupy the majority of available minutes. Serie B thus becomes the true laboratory for growth, while the top flight remains a challenging environment. If Italy wants to become competitive again, a change in mentality is needed. Individual talents aren’t enough: we need a system that allows them to play.

Because without minutes, there is no development. And without development, there is no future.