Juve Stabia, under coach Pagliuca, proved to be the surprise package of the Serie B season. As a newly promoted side, they finished fifth, securing a spot in the Serie A promotion playoffs, where their impressive run was eventually ended in the semi-finals by Cremonese, who went on to win the final.
But the praise for the “Vespe`s” season extends beyond just the team`s results. Many Under-25 players consistently delivered strong performances and gained significant attention. Among the youngest standout talents was the 2006-born Niccolò Fortini, who was on loan from Fiorentina. He carved out a key role as the left wing-back in Pagliuca`s 3-4-1-2 formation.
The Tuscan native from Camaiore made a total of 26 appearances, starting 24 of those, and contributed 2 goals – one in the 3-0 win against Cosenza on matchday 26 and the winning goal in the derby against Salernitana on matchday 32 – along with 4 assists during the regular season. He also started the playoff preliminary round against Palermo but had to be substituted after just 29 minutes due to a muscular injury. This injury prematurely ended his season, necessitating his return to Viola Park for rehabilitation. Fortini also demonstrated great consistency with the Italy Under 19 national team, being called up by coach Bollini for all fixtures with the exception of the friendly against Spain on January 15th. He scored his first goal for the national side in the 3-3 friendly draw against Wales on October 10th. Unfortunately, the young Azzurri squad did not qualify for the European Championship finals, finishing second in a challenging group that included France, Spain, and Latvia. They remained undefeated but harboured regret over the 1-1 draw against the Baltic side.
The impressive displays from the 19-year-old Tuscan have attracted interest from several clubs, including Napoli and Juventus in Italy, as well as Bayer Leverkusen abroad. However, Fiorentina holds strong belief in the player who joined their youth academy at the age of 8. He is set to join the senior squad for the pre-season training camp at Viola Park, working under the guidance of the new first-team coach, Stefano Pioli. Pioli returns to the club after previously coaching them from 2017 to 2019 and having played for them from 1989 to 1995. This summer represents a crucial period for Niccolò; alongside his school-leaving exams, he faces the task of earning his place in the Viola first-team squad.
A significant step for him will be tactical adaptation. From fulfilling the duties of a wide wing-back in a three-man defence, he will likely transition to meeting the demands of a full-back within the 4-2-3-1 system, which is the primary formation favoured by the coach from Parma. Fortini undoubtedly possesses the necessary technical and athletic attributes to succeed in this role. Considering the impactful work Coach Pioli has recently done with players like Theo Hernandez, a left-back known for his attacking prowess, one can envision a promising future for the player from Camaiore. It is also important to note that Fortini is a very versatile player; until the Under 17 level, he mainly played as an attacking winger. Although he is right-footed, he predominantly operates on the left flank but is capable of playing on the right as well. He has experience in both three-man and four-man defensive systems, suggesting Pioli will certainly find the most suitable position to effectively utilise his qualities for the benefit of the team.
In the LGI 2024/25 Yearbook, Fortini is compared to Spinazzola, specifically highlighting his progression from an attacking winger to a full-back role. Hopefully, as a positive sign, his characteristics also bring to mind another player who, like the Umbrian winger, achieved success with the Azzurri: Zambrotta. These are significant figures for Niccolò to draw inspiration from. In the more immediate future, the hope is that he can replicate the excellent season he experienced in Serie B, but this time in Serie A and potentially the Conference League, wearing the purple shirt that has been integral to his development as a footballer.
