Serie A Future Power Rankings: Rating Every Italian Club's Top Youngsters

Aside from a pending billionaire takeover, there is little better indication of a football club's future success than the talent of its young players. 

While Serie A has been on a bit of a decline in recent years, the Italian top flight still boasts a number of Europe's most promising prospects—a crop ready to usher in the league's future. 

In this slideshow, we'll take a look at every Serie A outfit, highlight some of their more notable youngsters and rank them based on their youth quality. 

Here are just a few guidelines to review before we get on with it:

• Only players aged 24 or younger by February 1, 2015 will be considered. 
• Loan players will be included in their parent club's section; for example, Mattia Destro will count for Roma, not Milan. 
• Quality and quantity matters; in other words, if a club has one blue-chip prospect and another mediocre one, said club will rank behind a club that boasts, for example, four very good prospects. 
• We've tried to make each list as inclusive as possible, but note that each club's slide will not include every capable U-24 player in its ranks. 
• The players on each slide will be listed alphabetically, not based on quality. 

Emanuele Gatto, 20: Back on loan with lower division side Lumezzane, the midfielder has four goals and over 20 caps as an Italian youth international.

Dejan Lazarevic, 24: Currently on loan with Sassuolo, the Slovenian winger has double-digit international caps and a penchant for cutting in from the left and having a go from distance. The final product needs work, but he creates good opportunities. 

Artur Ionita, 24: The Moldovan midfielder has been solid in limited appearances for Verona and could craft a decent career for himself. 

Jacopo Sala, 23: A well-rounded yet unspectacular midfielder, Sala creates chances on the pitch but has seen little time this season. 

Gregoire Defrel, 23: Though he didn't make the grade at Parma, the Frenchman is carrying Cesena's forward line, leading the Romagna outfit in goals and tying for the team lead in assists. 

Milan Djuric, 24: Standing at a massive 6'6" (1.98 m), the Bosnian forward wins more headers than all other Italian footballers, per WhoScored.com. Djuric has been wayward this season, but he has the superior physical tools that make him an intriguing prospect. 

Alejandro Rodriguez, 23: Cesena's resident super sub is third on the team in goals scored despite starting just three matches. Rodriguez needs to see more playing time because in his three seasons at the club, he's notched an impressive 11 goals in just 25 first-team matches. 

Ishak Belfodil, 23: A mammoth (6'4") striker with impressive dribbling ability, Belfodil was disappointing in a short stint with Inter. Now back at Parma where he excelled a couple of years ago, the Algerian international will look to prove he wasn't a one-hit wonder. 

Jose Mauri, 18: The Argentine-Italian midfielder has been ever-present in Roberto Donadoni's setup this season, gaining tremendous experience. He's probably a little overmatched at this point in his career as he's quite small (5'7") and is easily bullied by other midfielders. 

Elseid Hysaj, 20: The Albanian right-back has played over 100 games across club and international levels. While he doesn't offer much going forward, Hysaj is a resolute defender and a cog in Empoli's surprisingly proficient back line. 

Mario Rui, 23: The explosive left-back is always looking to use his searing pace to add width in the attacking third. While that speed makes him a threat going forward, it also allows him to track back to great effect and intercept passes. 

Simone Benedetti, 22: With 54 appearances across every youth international level for Italy, Benedetti is mature beyond his years. 

Alessio Cragno, 20: Possibly Cagliari's future in net, Cragno does not look like your typical keeper. He stands at a comparatively stunted 5'9" (1.76 m), but shot-stopping ability isn't measured in inches. 

Godfred Donsah, 18: The budding Ghanaian midfielder loves to get forward and go at his marker. He's a bit of an unknown at this point but has showed considerable maturity during his initial foray into Italian football. 

Victor Ibarbo, 24: Ibarbo has that unique mix of size (6'2") and speed that coaches crave and is primed to take his game to the next level during his loan at Roma. Should the Giallorossi make the deal permanent, the Colombian international will give Rudi Garcia yet another impressive forward. 

Nicola Murru, 20: With Murru totally frozen out of the side, management seems to have forgotten how well the young left-back fared last season. With just two games played on the season, he needs a transfer or risks being forgotten. 

Daniele Baselli, 22: With Baselli recently linked with a move to Milan by Calciomercato (h/t Football Italia), the Rossoneri would be getting a promising midfielder with an improving offensive game. It'd be a great signing for Milan as he is one of the peninsula's top midfield starlets. 

Marco Sportiello, 22: Sportiello has been nothing short of outstanding for the Oribici this season. Atalanta made a shrewd move in letting Andrea Consigli leave in order to make room for Sportiello, who ranks second in saves per game for goalkeepers with more than three league games played. 

Davide Zappacosta, 22: Previously utilized as a right-back, Zappacosta has found new life in a more forward position, scoring three goals and assisting on another in seven matches as a right-winger. Another Azzurrini regular, Zappacosta the winger is a much better prospect than Zappacosta the full-back.

Nikola Maksimovic, 23: The towering Serbian centre-back has been tremendous for the Granata this year, snuffing out opposing scoring chances with his knack for charging down strikes. He reads play well, and it looks like Torino have another stout central defender. 

Bruno Peres, 24: The Brazilian right-back has been an offensive force for Torino, scoring two goals and assisting on another three in 19 games this season. That's stellar offensive production for a full-back. 

Gaston Silva, 20: I'll admit I barely know anything about Torino's raw Uruguayan international other than he was fantastic in his Europa League debut against Copenhagen, notching a goal and an assist. 

Simone Verdi, 22: On loan at Empoli this season, Verdi has played the trequartista role quite well. He hasn't been racking up the statistics, but Verdi is gaining crucial experience and has shown above-average potential. 

Andrea Belotti, 20: The AlbinoLeffe product has knocked in eight goals in 13 appearances for the Italy U-21's and is third on the team with five goals this season, despite making just six of his 22 appearances as a member of the starting XI. He is one of Italy's top young forwards. 

Paulo Dybala, 21: According to Football Italia, Palermo's loquacious president Maurizio Zamparini has made Dybala available for summer transfer. The supremely talented Argentine is having a fine season—he's currently fifth in the capocannoniere race—and will draw interest from some of Europe's top clubs. His countryman Mauro Icardi is the more well-known player, but Dybala may be the better prospect. 

Achraf Lazaar, 23: The Moroccan international can play either as a left-back or a left midfielder, adding an offensive punch from either position. He gets forward well and is a good crosser, providing proper service to the likes of Belotti and Dybala. 

Simon Makienok, 24: Standing at a colossal 6'7" (2.01 m), the Danish international is more of a project at this point. He's shown well in the lower leagues, but refining his hold-up play could be the key to a prosperous Serie A career. 

Ezequiel Munoz, 24: Another player Zamparini is ready to part with, Munoz will spend the rest of the season on loan at Sampdoria. A stout tackler who reads play well, he should enjoy a solid professional career. 

Robin Quaison, 21: The Swedish midfielder opened his senior international career with two goals in his first four matches and has opened his Serie A account with two goals in eight substitute appearances. He knows how to find the back of the net and will be a player to watch over the next couple of years. 

Andrea Bertolacci, 24: With five assists to his name this season, the midfielder has steadily worked his way into the national team. A superb creator in the middle, Bertolacci's aerial game and shooting are a bit lacking, but he remains one of Italy's best young midfielders. 

Mattia Perin, 22: A virtual lock to be a mainstay with the Italian national team, Perin has been immense in net for Genoa. The Grifone will eventually fetch a pretty penny for their prized netminder. 

Panagiotis Tachtsidis, 23: The combative midfielder has great size (6'4") for the position, using it to win loads of aerial challenges and block shot after shot. The Greek international has racked up three goals and two assists on the season and has been Verona's best player during this campaign's loan spell. 

Federico Bonazzoli, 17: Currently on loan at Inter, Bonazzoli boasts fantastic size—6'4" (1.92 m)—and sound technical ability. The Italian striker has been prolific at every youth international level.

Jose Campana, 22: Loaned to Porto for the season, Campana is a decorated Spanish youth international who seems to have plateaued a bit.

Pedro Obiang, 22: The Atletico Madrid youth product is a classy operator, mixing the metronomic touch common in Spanish midfielders with an improving defensive skill set.

Bartosz Salamon, 23: Capable of playing as a holding midfielder or centre-half, the towering Polish international has a rocket for a right foot and loves to get forward.

Roberto Soriano, 23: A creative attacking player and willing defender, Soriano has steadily evolved into Samp's midfield engine.

Marcos Alonso, 24: The Spanish left-wingback has supplanted captain Manuel Pasqual on the depth chart and is a major threat going forward. Unlike many attack-minded full-backs, he doesn't shirk his defensive duties.

Khouma Babacar, 21: The mammoth (6'3") striker boasts commanding physicality and has shown an eye for goal in the lower divisions. Some refinement can yield a future akin to Christian Benteke.

Federico Bernardeschi, 20: Another Viola youngster who's shown well in Serie B, Bernardeschi is yet to start this season as he's a bit of an awkward fit in Vincenzo Montella's 3-5-2. Viola supporters won't like the comparison, but Bernardeschi reminds me a bit of Josip Ilicic, but the Ilicic of a few years ago when he was starring for Palermo.

Ante Rebic, 21: He can develop into a complete centre-forward as his solid physical tools and technique portend a capable goalscorer.

Stefan Savic, 24: The Montenegrin international has shed the "guy Manchester City gave up for Matija Nastasic" label and blossomed into one of top centre-backs in Serie A. Aerially dominant and highly adept at breaking up play, Savic is a consistent bright spot for the Viola.

Matias Vecino, 23: A regular performer for Empoli, Vecino has good size (6'2") and a growing attacking skill set. Valencia's Dani Parejo represents Vecino's ceiling.

Rafal Wolski, 22: A full Polish international, Wolski is a creative midfielder with the turn of pace and skill needed to play out wide.

Allan, 24: One of the best players you may not have heard of, Udinese's midfield general leads the Serie A in challenges won per game by a ridiculous margin—the 1.2 tackle difference between him and second-placed Luca Rigoni is the same difference between second place and 30th. The Brazilian really deserves some international recognition as he's developed into one of Italy's top midfielders. 

Nico Lopez, 21: The Uruguayan centre-forward scored four goals en route to winning the second-best player of the 2013 U-20 World Cup award, taking his tally with the Uruguay U-20's to 10 goals in 16 matches. Udinese have done well to loan him to Verona, where he has responded with four goals in 12 matches. With Luis Muriel on the way out, Lopez is Udinese's new hope up top. 

Luis Muriel, 23: Though he's still on the books at the Friuli, I wouldn't bet on Muriel returning to the Zebrette. The pacy Colombian centre-forward scored 11 goals in 22 matches—15 of which came as starts—in the 2012-13 season. While his production dipped a bit last season, he may find new life under Sinisa Mihajlovic during his loan to Samp. 

Simone Scuffet, 18: Born in Udine, Scuffet has come through the Udinese ranks to emerge as their future No. 1. He's excelled at every level so far and is another one of Italy's elite goalkeeping prospects. 

Silvan Widmer, 21: A defensive, right-sided footballer, Widmer has expanded his offensive game from a season ago, registering two goals and two assists in 20 matches. 

Piotr Zielinski, 20: The Polish international has yet to establish himself in Serie A and has struggled to see regular playing time while on loan at Empoli. He's a gifted player who just needs to find his niche before he starts to make good. 

Luca Antei, 22: Antei burst onto the scene last season but has been used somewhat sparingly by manager Eusebio Di Francesco this term. A robust tackler who impedes passing lanes, Antei has a bright future but must now focus on reclaiming his place. 

Nicola Sansone, 23: The German-born forward has been a constant in Di Francesco's squad this year, flanking Simone Zaza on the left. He may struggle to break into the Italian national team, but Sansone is a versatile forward who operates well in an attacking trident. 

Sime Vrsaljko, 23: The heir apparent to longtime Croatia captain Darijo Srna, Vrsaljko is one of Serie A's best right-backs. He gets forward well and doesn't neglect his defensive duties, bringing a complete skill set to the Sassuolo back line. 

Simone Zaza, 23: Averaging an excellent 0.5 goals per game this season, the Italian international has continued to terrorize defenses. He uses his 6'2" size well in the box and can become a complete centre-forward in the coming years. 

Felipe Anderson, 21: The uber-talented Brazilian is inching closer to returning from a knee injury. In his last five matches prior to the knock, Anderson notched five goals and five assists. Apart from Paul Pogba, he may have the brightest future of any player mentioned. 

Danilo Cataldi, 20: The future of the Biancocelesti midfield showed well in Serie B and could use another loan spell—this time to a top-flight club—to continue his development.

Stefan de Vrij, 23: He's seamlessly acclimated to Serie A and is emerging as one of the league's top centre-halves. The former Feyenoord man breaks up play to great effect and was immense during Holland's World Cup run.   

Balde Keita Diao, 19: A lightning-quick winger with phenomenal dribbling skill, he's a bit of an unknown commodity but offers ridiculous upside.

Ogenyi Onazi, 22: A well-rounded utility midfielder, the Nigerian has amassed considerable experience in his young career. He's much better when given an attacking role.

Rafael Cabral, 24: Napoli's No. 1 is a solid keeper who can mind the Sao Paolo net for the next decade.

Manolo Gabbiadini, 23: The rangy centre-forward is always willing to have a go with his thunderous left boot. Fast enough to play out wide, Gabbiadini is a potent attacking force with huge potential.

Faouzi Ghoulam, 24: Strong in the air and a threat in the attacking third, the Algerian international thrives at getting forward and whipping crosses into the box.

Lorenzo Insigne, 23: The pint-sized (5'4") winger offers substantial attacking impetus up top and is among the peninsula's best at using acceleration and ball control to create shooting lanes.

Roberto Insigne, 20: Lorenzo's younger brother doesn't have the same ceiling but is averaging almost one goal per game on his current loan at Reggina.

Jorginho, 23: The Brazilian has struggled to replicate the stellar form he displayed with Verona a season ago but remains a tantalizing playmaker with plus defensive tools.

Kalidou Koulibaly, 23: Signed as a raw, imposing defender, the French centre-half is rapidly developing into an uncompromising tackler with an affinity for charging down shots.

Bruno Uvini, 23: Already a full Brazilian international, he's yet to make an impact at Napoli but is an intriguing prospect.

Duvan Zapata, 23: Utilized mostly as a super sub by Rafa Benitez, the Colombian is a major difference-maker off the bench.

Mattia De Sciglio, 22: One of world football's top young full-backs, De Sciglio can become a world-class right-back but has been relegated to left-back duty due to the presence of Azzurri teammate Ignazio Abate. Still an above-average defender on the left, De Sciglio is one youngster whom Milan must retain.

Stephan El Shaarawy, 22: Il Faraone has been inconsistent for the Rossoneri this season due to a series of injuries. He has the tools to become the best forward in Italy but must stay healthy in order to do so. 

Hachim Mastour, 16: Mastour is the best pure prospect in Serie A and has the potential to become a club icon. He has limitless upside. 

M'Baye Niang, 20: The French troublemaker has elite physical tools and can beat his marker with ease, but he needs work on his final ball. Milan should continue to loan Niang out until he improves his delivery. 

Riccardo Saponara, 23: Back at Empoli on loan, Saponara starred for the Tuscany club as a trequartista a few seasons ago. He struggled to hold a regular role under Inzaghi and should benefit from the return to his boyhood club. 

Suso, 21: Poached from Liverpool, Milan's new No. 8 looks a star in the making. Armed with superior vision and passing acumen, the Spanish youth international is one to watch in the coming seasons. 

Mauro Icardi, 21: He's begun to find his scoring touch again for the Nerazzurri, who will need their prodigious No. 9 on top form if they're to reverse their league fortunes. The Argentine international is a clinical finisher who will develop into a consistent 20-goal performer, with 30-goal season potential. 

Juan Jesus, 23: The Brazilian centre-back is a pure ball-winner, dispossessing opponents with regularity. He's yet to cement a place with the Seleccao, and his aerial defending could use a bit of work, but make no mistake: Juan is one of the top 10 central defenders in Italy. 

Mateo Kovacic, 20: Croatia's best young footballer is a classy midfield maestro who can orchestrate from deep or do the job in the No. 10 position. Very formidable when he hits full stride, Kovacic can already pick the killer pass and has already matched his career high in goals this season. 

Joel Obi, 23: The Nigerian international is a solid squad player who offers elite positional flexibility. 

Xherdan Shaqiri, 23: The powerful winger has already racked up 42 international caps for Switzerland, becoming the nation's talisman in the process. On his day, he's a match-winner, and if he can put it all together, we could be looking at the left-footed Alexis Sanchez.

Saphir Taider, 22: A key member for upstart Algeria at World Cup 2014, Taider has continued to play well this season during his season loan to Sassuolo. He's been progressing well and is another future star in the Inter midfield. 

Domenico Berardi, 20: Serie A's breakout star from a season ago has continued his stellar form this campaign. He edges out Stephan El Shaarawy, Lorenzo Insigne and company as Italy's top wing prospect.

Richmond Boakye, 22: It could be a while before he enters the Juve squad, but he has shown an eye for goal while on loan and on senior international duty with Ghana.

Kingsley Coman, 18: Another Bosman acquisition, the former PSG forward has flashed immense upside.

Nicola Leali, 21: Although he's conceded the second-most goals this season with Cesena, Leali is a top young keeper who's been touted as Gianluigi Buffon's successor.

Luca Marrone, 24: An imposing hard man with a nose for the ball, Marrone's future is likely away from Juve, where he's struggled to make a consistent impact.

Alvaro Morata, 22: The Real Madrid product and Spain's future No. 9 has seen most of his debut season come from the bench, but his long-term potential is without doubt.

Paul Pogba, 21: Arguably the best Bosman transfer ever, Pogba is already a world-class midfielder and may have a Ballon d'Or in his future. Players who could feature in the starting XI for every club in football are few and far between—Pogba is one of them.

Daniele Rugani, 20: The top centre-back prospect in Italy is gaining invaluable experience at Empoli and will be an Azzurri mainstay for the next decade.

Mattia Destro, 23: A pure goalscorer, Destro will look to stake his claim as a regular starter on loan at Milan. He could thrive under the tutelage of Rossoneri manager and goal-poaching apotheosis Filippo Inzaghi, but he will need to improve his holdup and linkup play if he wants to take his game to the next level.

Dodo, 22: The Brazilian left-back is superb at getting forward, adding crucial width to the Inter attack during his loan this season. He's improving defensively and looks ready become a top left-back in the coming seasons.

Alessandro Florenzi, 23: An extraordinary utility player with a tremendous work rate, the Azzurri international is deployed confidently anywhere on the pitch.

Juan Manuel Iturbe, 21: The diminutive (5'7") winger flies about the pitch and dribbles with the ball on a string, but he must get stronger in order to ward off challengers.

Adem Ljajic, 23: Renowned in Serie A circles for years, Ljajic has enjoyed a more regular role this season and has already surpassed his goal haul from last campaign.

Kostas Manolas, 23: A commanding centre-half with a nose for the ball, Manolas has aptly replaced Mehdi Benatia and will anchor the Giallorossi back line for years to come.

Leandro Paredes, 20: The lithe attacker exhibits tremendous skill on the ball and is another touted product of Argentine giants Boca Juniors. 

Miralem Pjanic, 24: An elite distributor from midfield, Pjanic is the best regista in Serie A at the moment and is the man who makes Roma tick.

Alessio Romagnoli, 20: Currently on loan at Sampdoria, the Azzurrini centre-back has been impressive under Sinisa Mihajlovic and looks primed to become one of the finest defenders on the peninsula.

Antonio Sanabria, 18: Another highly regarded product of Barcelona's famed La Masia, the untested striker will hopefully see the playing time he needs during his loan to Cesena.

Kevin Strootman, 24: Injuries have derailed the all-action Dutchman, but when healthy, Strootman is one of the most well-rounded midfielders in world football.