Much of the week preceding AC Milan against Juventus was spent commemorating a drinking, smoking, Nottingham-born lacemaker who died 100 years ago. But it was a graceful, 18-year-old from the lakes around Milan who decided the match.
Manuel Locatelli's stupendous second half strike, which downed the champions, was the perfect way to pay tribute to Herbert Kilpin. The English pioneer, who founded the club in 1899, passed away on 22nd October 1916.
Looking down on the team he created, Kilpin would have raised a generous glass of whisky to Locatelli. Just like Rossoneri fans are down here in Italy, if you swap whisky for wine, prosecco or grappa, of course. The youthful central midfielder with the mousy, curly hair has only made three starts in Serie A, but has already earned prestigious comparisons.
The 18-year-old is a central midfielder who has only made three starts in Serie A
Locatelli was signed by
Milan when he was 11, and was first spotted in an under 8s match
'Loca', as he is known, grew up in the province of Lecco, a lakeside town in the Como area.
Playing on the small pitches for children attached to churches (a tradition in Italy), Manuel was spotted by a scout watching an under 8s match and joined Atalanta.
His fame spread and Milan signed the youngster at the age of eleven. He glided through the age groups, eventually playing under youth coach Pippo Inzaghi.
Inzaghi was promoted to head coach in summer 2014, and gave the midfielder a place on the bench for the match at Fiorentina in March 2015. Loca didn't come on, but was acclimatising to life with the seniors. He made his debut as a substitute a year later, in April 2015 at home to Carpi.
The fledgling talent's progress was gradual and handled carefully. But there was nothing gentle about his first goal. Locatelli thundered a long range-shot past Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli on October 2 this year, in a thrilling game in which Milan came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3.
Pippo Inzaghi worked with him in AC
Milan's youth sides and put him on the senior team bench
Locatelli is stepping in after Riccardo Montolivo was injured playing for Italy against Spain
The young hero couldn't hold in the emotion of his maiden strike for his boyhood team and was in tears after the match. But the mantra from the club remained consistent: he was understudy to captain Riccardo Montolivo, and would be eased in with patience.
When Montolivo injured his left knee on international duty against Spain four days later, the path opened up for Locatelli. With the stricken skipper out of action for six months, the lad from Lecco had a chance for an extended spell in the Rossoneri line-up.
And in only his third start on Saturday night against five-in-a-row champions Juventus, the 'Monster from the lake', as Luca Bianchin of Gazzetta dello Sport dubbed him, slayed the Bianconeri.
Milan hadn't played particularly well, but stayed in the game. In the 65th minute, a lack of concentration in the Juventus midfield allowed Loca to run into the area.
Displaying fearlessness and confidence in his own marksmanship, the 18 year-old rifled a high shot past Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon.
Locatelli struck in the 65th minute after running into the penalty area against
Juventus
Milan boss Vincenzo Montella has likened 18-year-old
Locatelli to Demetrio Albertini
That venomous drive via the crossbar was the only goal of the evening. Cue Loca-mania in the press, bars and playgrounds.
Manager Vincenzo Montella likened his pearl to Milan legend Demetrio Albertini. Not a bad guy to be compared to, although Albertini told the Gazzetta: 'Manuel's more dynamic than I was. I like him because he isn't scared to shoot.'
The glamourous associations don't end there. Some journalists cite similarities with the elegant Argentine Fernando Redondo. A 1998 Champions League winner with Real Madrid, princely Redondo also had an injury-ravaged stint with Milan.
President Silvio Berlusconi sees flashes of Gianni Rivera, one of the finest No10s in Italian history. Berlusconi has been a vocal Locatelli admirer for years, which is not lost on the humble teenager.
'I appreciate the president's words, they made me very proud. I plan to keep my feet on the ground and give my all in training,' Loca told Serie A's official television programme 'Total Italian Football'.
Who does the boy wonder himself revere?
'I had a poster of Andrea Pirlo on my wall, he was my idol. I want to emulate him, I watch his matches to learn from him,' he said.
Midfielder
Locatelli is used in the centre of a 4-3-3 formation by Montella at AC
Milan
Milan have a number of impressive youngsters, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma
In Montella's side Loca plays in the centre of a 4-3-3. He has playmaking responsibility but is also expected to close down opponents and make interceptions like Montolivo.
Saturday's triumph moved Milan to third in Serie A, two points behind Juventus. Montella's hungry young team, starring phenomenal 17 year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, classy centre-back Alessio 'New Nesta' Romagnoli, 21, and mercurial forward M'Baye Niang, also 21, are causing a stir after years of mediocrity.
And Locatelli is the newest young star in the red and black galaxy. Three league starts, two spectacular goals and a handsome collection of headlines. After a week in which the past was fulsomely celebrated, it's time to savour the future: the golden boy who rose from the lake.
