Luka Topalović

[CafeCordoba]

Italy problem? Clubs in England and Spain have U23 teams.

 

[Gaindé]

So is the consensus that when we have U23 team and a young player does well in that team he would be deemed ready for Inter?
Because I highly doubt that.

 

[.h.]

So is the consensus that when we have U23 team and a young player does well in that team he would be deemed ready for Inter?
Because I highly doubt that.

Not really.

Right now, when a player 'graduates' from the primavera, we have 2 choices. We can either send them out on loan, or we keep them. Keeping them is very risky with our squad because there's a really good chance they basically wont play, in which case, they would have been MUCH better off out on loan getting minutes. But being out on loan means they don't get the 'chance' to come through.

A significant part of youth emerging is being given unexpected opportunities, and then seizing it. Look at Barca, or some of the recent Juve developments, even at clubs like United/City/Chelsea/etc - kids are often getting their chance becaues first team players are massively underperforming, or injured, etc.

An U23 team gives us a third option in between option 1 and 2 - the kids can get game time at a lower level, and if a chance does come up for some first team action (e.g. because Acerbi is fucking out for 4 months, because only 1 of our strikers is scoring, etc), then they get the chance to shine.

What is an interesting question is who you decide to keep vs loan out. I'd say the guys who are regularly starting at Serie B or A level you probably should be loaning out anyway - like, Pio Esposito - if he was in Inter U23, he wouldnt be Serie B young player of the year, for example, and scoring 11 goals for Spezia is worth a huge amount - but for some of the kids we have, it probably *is* useful to be able to play U23 in Serie C + backup at Serie A level?

Aleksandr Stankovic is potentially an example of that, I'd say? I reckon Filip Stankovic is doing the right thing being on loan, but maybe Fontanarosa, Zanotti, etc, its a bit more ambiguous?

Point being, an U23 team gives us flexibility we dont have atm.

 

[Gaindé]

But if my not mistaken once a player plays a game for the first team they are not qualified for the U23 anymore, right ?

 

[CafeCordoba]

Not really.

Right now, when a player 'graduates' from the primavera, we have 2 choices. We can either send them out on loan, or we keep them. Keeping them is very risky with our squad because there's a really good chance they basically wont play, in which case, they would have been MUCH better off out on loan getting minutes. But being out on loan means they don't get the 'chance' to come through.

A significant part of youth emerging is being given unexpected opportunities, and then seizing it. Look at Barca, or some of the recent Juve developments, even at clubs like United/City/Chelsea/etc - kids are often getting their chance becaues first team players are massively underperforming, or injured, etc.

An U23 team gives us a third option in between option 1 and 2 - the kids can get game time at a lower level, and if a chance does come up for some first team action (e.g. because Acerbi is fucking out for 4 months, because only 1 of our strikers is scoring, etc), then they get the chance to shine.

What is an interesting question is who you decide to keep vs loan out. I'd say the guys who are regularly starting at Serie B or A level you probably should be loaning out anyway - like, Pio Esposito - if he was in Inter U23, he wouldnt be Serie B young player of the year, for example, and scoring 11 goals for Spezia is worth a huge amount - but for some of the kids we have, it probably *is* useful to be able to play U23 in Serie C + backup at Serie A level?

Aleksandr Stankovic is potentially an example of that, I'd say? I reckon Filip Stankovic is doing the right thing being on loan, but maybe Fontanarosa, Zanotti, etc, its a bit more ambiguous?

Point being, an U23 team gives us flexibility we dont have atm.

Yeah, and nothing is binary, everything is case-by-case. How the individual player feels, what seems to be best for his future at that point when he leaves Primavera. We need to improve on that, and hopefully the U23 helps us in that regard.

The most promising ones should indeed go to Serie B level, optimally. Okay, the real talents who got it all already, goes straight to the first team, but this is extremely rare. U23 team is maybe for the ones who are not ready to jump to Serie B. Because jump is big from junior football to senior, real men's football, and Serie B is a tough, competitive league. U23 becomes handy for the players who can't make that jump yet.

Fabbian is a great example of a player who could make the jump to Serie B. From there after one season, straight to Serie A to a reasonably high level. And yet, now the second season doesn't look that great, so he should take a step back and move elsewhere on loan now like it's been rumored. Development is not always linear and lot of things affect that like the coach (possibly now in Fabbian's case, we don't know that).

Imagine Fabbian straight from Primavera to the first team, not a fucking chance. And even now, it's questionable could he be a useful for us, after great seasons at Serie B and Serie A (+ one not so great half Serie A season).

 

[.h.]

But if my not mistaken once a player plays a game for the first team they are not qualified for the U23 anymore, right ?

no, i think they have something like 50 appearances for the first team before not being eligible anymore?

 

[Damageplan]

You have to be great to have a chance at the first team in most if not all top serie A teams. Its how its always been. However the main reason primavera players do not get promoted is physique and physicality. Very very few meet the italian standards straight from primavera. Most (talented) spanish players that are promoted in La Liga would never ever get a chance in serie A.

 

[Il Drago]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884999802020118711

Long thread but it's worth a read

 

[.h.]

Can you share it? I don't have an account and can only read the first post

 

[Il Drago]

Can you share it? I don't have an account and can only read the first post

Luka Topalović: Inter’s Slovenian Playmaker

Slovenia is a small nation with only Oblak, Šeško, Iličić, Kampl and Bijol as their main higher profile players. But Inter’s Luka Topalović could become an integral part of their national team in the future.[THREAD]

Academy Baller…
Luka Topalović

Club: Inter Milan
Nationality: Slovenia
Positions: AM, CM
Preferred Foot: Right
Height: 6’2”/187cm
Age: 18

Strengths: Through balls, vision, half-space crosses, set-pieces, line breaking passes, weak foot usage, press resistance, ball carrying, ball striking, direct free-kicks, slide tackling, athleticism, physicality, pressing, desire, aerial ability, box crashing

Development Areas: build-up involvement, channelled aggression, defensive 1v1’s, defending transitions, explosiveness

Luka Topalović is a real exciting talent playing for Inter Milan’s Primavera/U19 side.

An all-action attacking midfielder who’s capable of creating chances out of nothing and a deadly ball striker from distance.

Topalović is a technical DLP. In deep areas he times his release of the ball well and clips passes over the top of the defence or down the line to runners.

As a playmaker, he has a good understanding of tempo.

When his side recover the ball, Luka Topalović is great at starting transitions due to the timing of passes and the execution of the pass.

He has good awareness of runners and judges the weight of pass so well.

The Slovenian midfielder has an excellent first touch to quickly get the ball under control and release it to start transitions.

Topalović is the type of midfielder who can pull off some remarkable through balls and passes.

Use of both feet to trap, control and pass makes for a secure press resistant midfielder. Being able to break the lines with either foot to identify and exploit space effectively makes Topalović tough to anticipate.

The intelligence Topalović has shown in build-up is promising. He shows for the ball, knows when is best to take a touch, several or pass first time.

Luka Topalović has good awareness of his proximity to defenders and times his release of the ball accordingly.

With a broad 6’2” frame Luka Topalović is effective at shielding the ball. He has good ball manipulation to get out of tight spaces but also uses his body and arms to hold off defenders.

Topalović is also a decent ball carrier but often opts to pass first if a transition is on.

When higher up the pitch, Luka Topalović’s half-space crossing is top quality. He can create so much whip on crosses into the danger zone that are tough to defend.

Any slight touch and the ball ends up in the net.

Luka Topalović has a very consistent delivery from set-pieces. He’ll take all corners and deep free kicks and regularly put the ball right into the pathway of his team’s main threat.

Although he’s tall, Luka Topalović has quality ball manipulation to create separation from his marker and set up shots. One of his main threats is his shooting from distance.

That ball striking is dangerous in open play or free-kicks.

Luka Topalović scored 2 outstanding goals from a similar area in a UEFA Youth League win against RB Leipzig earlier this season.

Topalović is a good box-crasher. He has a good game iQ to recycle the ball out wide and slowly made his way into the box to get on the end of a cross or cutback.

With good aerial ability and ball striking, he’s a real threat in the box.

Topalović will arrive on the edge of the box to finish off moves. He doesn’t score loads of goals, still a decent amount, but when he does, they’re usually impressive strikes.

Defensively, Luka Topalović is good at slide tackling players just as they’re about to get past him. He’ll time these slide tackles effectively.

For a more attacking midfielder, he does have good defensive foundations, but some parts need work.

Off the ball, he has so much athleticism and stamina to run all game pressing.

Topalović’s desire and work ethic off the ball forces defensive errors where he can steal the ball and finishe clinically.

nter signed Luka Topalović from NK Domžale for €850k in July 2024.

He played 49 games for Domžale where he amassed 3,063 minutes scoring 3 goals and getting 6 assists. He made his debut when he was 16.

Since moving to Inter Milan, Luka Topalović has shone for their youth teams.

He’s yet to make his debut for the first team but it’s inevitable that he will if he continues to perform well.

Obviously, there’s a lot of positives to Luka Topalović’s profile, but he’s still a young player with areas that are needing to be further developed.

But what are his main development areas?

1. Build-up involvement

Due to how good he is in build-up play (both-footed, progressive, press resistant etc.), I would like to see him show for the ball more in build up to run the initial phases.

Topalović’s ball progression would be so useful if used here.

2. Channelled aggression

Off the ball he is so eager to win the ball back and change the game that he can be overly aggressive or mis-time when to be aggressive to win back the ball.

He’ll barge players to push them off the ball and give away a free kick.

3. Defensive 1v1’s

In defensive 1v1’s, Luka Topalović can mistime when to engage with allows more skilled 1v1 dribblers to get around him quite easily. He needs to learn to jockey and delay first, then engage.

4. Defending Transitions

When defending transitions Topalović sometimes gets drawn to the ball and chases the player rather than getting in front of them first to tackle. Chasing like this can be high risk and cause fouls.

5. Explosiveness

Luka Topalović is a good ball carrier but lacks the explosiveness in 1v1’s. With more acceleration over first few yards, he could burst past players to create space easier.

Luka Topalović just keeps impressing for Inter at youth level so be on the lookout for him as he breaks into senior football whether it’s at Inter or elsewhere.

Thanks for reading. All the support is greatly appreciated.

He has also included lots of videos from his games that i sadly can't share.

 

[Adriano@10]

no, i think they have something like 50 appearances for the first team before not being eligible anymore?

Do you have any link to the ruls for the B teams? I could only find a foorbal italia article which states 5 games: Players can move between parent and B Team clubs, but if they have at least five appearances for the first team, they won’t be allowed back into the B Team.

But i guess thats 5 games per season and not 5 games in total... I m a bit confused cause I also found he 50 game reference but on another forum with no prove...
Than again it might be both 5 max per season and a complete cut off after 50 games

 

[.h.]

Do you have any link to the ruls for the B teams? I could only find a foorbal italia article which states 5 games: Players can move between parent and B Team clubs, but if they have at least five appearances for the first team, they won’t be allowed back into the B Team.

But i guess thats 5 games per season and not 5 games in total... I m a bit confused cause I also found he 50 game reference but on another forum with no prove...
Than again it might be both 5 max per season and a complete cut off after 50 games

I don't but I'll dig it out of I can find one once I'm not travelling.

 

[IM21]

if you keep your head up and work hard, you will perhaps be loaned out to Monza in a couple of years and then if you're lucky you will come back to Inter and make a debut for the team in a Cup game, that we're winning 5-0, in the 89th minute at the age of 28.

 

[wera]

chill bro