FIFA 22 Wonderkids: Best Young Italian Players to Sign in Career Mode

Four-time World Cup winners Italy have had some incredible players throughout their history, including Giuseppe Meazza, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, and Franco Baresi to name just a few. Could one of the players in this article be the next name on that list?

Choosing FIFA 22 Career Mode’s best Italian wonderkids

This article will look at the best young, up-and-coming stars from Italy, featuring plays like Nicolò Rovella, Giacomo Raspadori, and Moise Kean, each of whom is amongst the top prospects in FIFA 22.

The players have been chosen by their potential overall rating, and to quality they must be 21 years old or younger.

At the foot of the article, you’ll find a full list of all of the best Italian wonderkids in FIFA 22.

1. Giacomo Raspadori (74 OVR – 88 POT)

FIFA 22 Wonderkids best young Italian player Giacomo Raspadori (74 OVR - 88 POT)

Team: Sassuolo
Age: 21
Wage: £19,000
Value: £9 million
Best Attributes: 85 Balance, 82 Acceleration, 79 Ball Control

Giacomo Raspadori’s 74 rating on FIFA 22 doesn’t exactly set the world on fire, but with an 88 potential overall rating, it’s clear that the 21-year-old has plenty of ability.

The young Sassuolo star’s movement is his biggest asset in the short-term, with 85 balance, 82 acceleration, and 77 agility. His 77 positioning and 76 finishing are a decent starting point but with his 88 potential they are sure to improve. Other notable attributes are his five-star weak foot and four-star skill moves.

After finishing the 2019/2020 season strongly for Sassuolo with two goals in the final seven games, Raspadori played most of the 2020/2021 season, scoring six goals and captaining the side three times.

The young Italian made his international debut this summer. He played just 15 minutes in Euro 2020, but bagged a goal and an assist in a subsequent World Cup qualifying game in September against Lithuania.

2. Nicolò Rovella (70 OVR – 87 POT)

FIFA 22 Wonderkids best young Italian player Nicolò Rovella (70 OVR - 87 POT)

Team: Genoa
Age: 19
Wage: £16,000
Value: £3.5 million
Best Attributes: 81 Stamina, 75 Agility, 75 Short Passing

Nicolò Rovella is currently on loan at Genoa from Juventus so unfortunately will not be eligible for transfer in the first season. He has a 70 overall rating and a potential rating of 87.

Young players often struggle playing out games in FIFA titles but with 81 stamina, Rovella isn’t in that category. His 75 agility and 73 balance make his movement adequate and with 74 ball control and 72 dribbling, he has the ability drive the ball forward for his team.

Juventus purchased Rovella in January this year but have loaned him back to Genoa until next summer. After working his way through Genoa’s youth system and playing most of last season, Rovella has now established himself in the first team. He has played the first six games of the season for Genoa and bagged two assists in that time.

Rovella is yet to make his international debut for Italy but if he keeps performing in Serie A, it won’t be too far away.

3. Moise Kean (79 OVR – 87 POT)

FIFA 22 Wonderkids best young Italian player Moise Kean (79 OVR - 87 POT)

Team: Juventus
Age: 21
Wage: £59,000
Value: £34 million
Best Attributes: 85 Sprint Speed, 85 Strength, 84 Shot Power

Moise Kean has performed well on multiple loan spells in his young career, and as a result has earned a 79 overall rating with an 87 potential overall rating.

At just 21 years old, Kean is already a powerful young striker in FIFA 22. With 85 strength, 85 sprint speed, and 84 acceleration he is difficult to outpace and outmuscle, and his 81 finishing and 81 positioning make him adept in front of goal as well.

After struggling at Everton since joining the club in 2019, Kean bounced back in a loan move to PSG last season, scoring 13 goals in 26 games. He is on loan again this season, this time at Juventus, where he’ll be hoping to continue where he left off prior to joining Everton.

Kean made his international debut back in 2018. He’s played ten times for Italy and scored four goals, including a brace in his last match against Lithuania.

4. Nicolò Zaniolo (78 OVR – 87 POT)

FIFA 22 Wonderkids best young Italian player Nicolò Zaniolo (78 OVR - 87 POT)

Team: Roma
Age: 21
Wage: £33,000
Value: £27.1 million
Best Attributes: 88 Strength, 84 Sprint Speed, 82 Acceleration

Nicolò Zaniolo is an attacking midfielder for Roma, and on FIFA 22 has a 78 overall rating with an 87 potential overall rating.

Zaniolo is a physical presence standing at 6’3” and with 88 strength, though he also has good movement with 81 balance. He is fast with 84 sprint speed and 81 acceleration, and his 80 positioning and 76 finishing make him effective in front of goal.

Last season, Zaniolo scored six goals and had two assists in a year in which he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. He will be hoping that a full season in the first team in 2021/22 will allow him to build on that firm foundation.

The aforementioned injury has kept Zaniolo from playing many games for his country since his debut in 2019. He’s played eight times for Italy, scoring twice, with both goals coming in the same game.

5. Sandro Tonali (77 OVR – 86 POT)

FIFA 22 Wonderkids best young Italian player Sandro Tonali (77 OVR - 86 POT)

Team: Milan
Age: 21
Wage: £22,000
Value: £19.4 million
Best Attributes: 82 Sprint Speed, 81 Short Passing, 80 Aggression

Touted by many as the next Pirlo, Tonali has a 77 overall rating and a potential rating of 86 on FIFA 22.

The talented FIFA 22 CDM is a well-balanced player on without many standout numbers. His 82 sprint speed, 81 short passing, and 80 long passing are his best stats, and allow him to make great passes on the counter-attack.

The Brescia graduate made a big move to Milan as a loanee in 2020, before making that move permanent this summer. Last season, Tonali played 25 games in Serie A but did not register a single goal or assist. This season he’s played all six games so far and already has a goal and an assist to his name.

6. Sebastiano Esposito (68 OVR – 85 POT)

FIFA 22 Wonderkids best young Italian player Sebastiano Esposito (68 OVR - 85 POT)

Team: FC Basel 1893
Age: 19
Wage: £11,000
Value: £2.7 million
Best Attributes: 75 Ball Control, 75 Curve, 74 Dribbling

Sebastian Esposito has just a 68 overall rating on FIFA 22, but with an 85 potential overall rating there is plenty of room for that number to improve.

The 18-year-old striker may be best suited as an attacking midfielder on FIFA 22, with 75 ball control, 74 dribbling, and 68 short passing. His 67 finishing is complemented by the finesse shot and outside foot shot trait, but he will need training to capitalise on his 85 potential.

Three consecutive loan spells from Inter Milan have allow Esposito to expand his game each year. On loan at FC Basel 1893 this season, he has started very strongly with four goals and one assist in the first handful of games.

Esposito is yet to make his professional international debut for Italy, but if he continues his club form it won’t be too far away.

7. Samuele Ricci (67 OVR – 84 POT)

FIFA 22 Wonderkids best young Italian player Samuele Ricci (67 OVR - 84 POT)

Team: Empoli
Age: 19
Wage: £7,000
Value: £2.2 million
Best Attributes: 74 Stamina, 73 Short Passing, 72 Ball Control

Like Esposito, Samuele Ricci is something of a project player on FIFA 22, with a 67 overall rating significantly below his 85 potential.

Unsurprisingly given his relatively low rating, Ricci does not have many standout stats yet. His 74 stamina, 73 short passing, and 72 ball control are his only stats over 70, but provide a good foundation for a box-to-box central midfielder.

Ricci has already played two full seasons for Empoli in Serie B, helping them to get promoted last season. Now in Serie A, Ricci has already scored in the first six games, helping the newly promoted side to win as many games as they’ve lost.

Ricci is yet to make his debut for Italy but has played for the under 17, under 18, under 19, and under 21 squads.

All of the best young Italian players on FIFA 22

In the table below you will find a list of all of the best young Italian players in FIFA 22 sorted by their potential rating.

Name	Overall	Potential	Age	Position	Team	Value	Wage
Giacomo Raspadori	74	88	21	ST	Sassuolo	£9M	£19K
Nicolò Rovella	70	87	19	CM, CDM	Genoa	£3.5M	£16K
Moise Kean	79	87	21	ST	Juventus	£34M	£59K
Nicolò Zaniolo	78	87	21	CAM, RM	Roma	£27.1M	£33K
Sandro Tonali	77	86	21	CDM, CM	Milan	£19.4M	£22K
Sebastiano Esposito	68	85	18	ST, CAM	FC Basel 1893	£2.7M	£11K
Samuele Ricci	67	84	19	CM, CDM	Empoli	£2.2M	£7K
Nicolò Fagioli	68	83	20	CM, CAM	Juventus	£2.5M	£15K
Eddie Salcedo	70	82	19	CF, ST	Spezia	£3.3M	£23K
Emanuel Vignato	71	82	20	CAM	Bologna	£3.5M	£12K
Lorenzo Pirola	64	82	19	CB	AC Monza	£1.2M	£559
Brian Oddei	64	81	18	RW	Crotone	£1.3M	£860
Matteo Lovato	72	81	21	CB	Atalanta	£4.2M	£17K
Matteo Gabbia	68	81	21	CB	Milan	£2.4M	£8K
Riccardo Calafiori	68	81	19	LB, LM	Roma	£2.3M	£8K
Davide Frattesi	69	81	21	CM, CDM	Sassuolo	£2.9M	£9K
Andrea Carboni	68	81	20	CB, LB	Cagliari	£2.3M	£7K
Matteo Cancellieri	68	81	18	RW, CF	Hellas Verona	£2.4M	£4K
Destiny Udogie	64	81	18	LB, LM	Udinese	£1.2M	£2K
Riccardo Ladinetti	64	80	20	CM	Cagliari	£1.3M	£4K
Wilfried Gnonto	58	80	17	CF, LM, ST	FC Zürich	£559K	£559
Tommaso Pobega	69	80	21	CM	Torino	£2.7M	£10K