Italian defender Andrea Natali, a recent European Under-17 champion, is set to leave Barcelona and join Bayer Leverkusen. The young talent could soon be under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, who might include him in the first-team training camp.
A Bright Future Ahead
Goal Italia report that fresh off winning the Under-17 European Championship, Andrea Natali is ready for another significant step in his budding career. The highly-regarded defender, born in 2008, will leave Barcelona to join Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. This move, as reported by Sky, sees the German club investing one million euros in the 16-year-old, reflecting their confidence in his promising future.
Who is Andrea Natali?
Andrea Natali is an Italian defender, born in 2008, and the son of Cesare Natali, a former defender who played for clubs like Atalanta and Fiorentina. Andrea started his youth career at Udinese and later moved to AC Milan. At the age of 12, he joined Espanyol, where he stayed until the summer of 2021 before transferring to Barcelona. At Barcelona, he played for both the Under-16 and Under-18 teams, showcasing his versatility and skill.
Triumph at the European Championships
Natali was a key player for Italy’s Under-17 team during their European Championship victory. He played in five out of six matches, starting in all but the opening game against Poland, where he played 53 minutes before being sent off. In the subsequent matches, he remained on the pitch for the full ninety minutes, contributing significantly to Italy’s success.
Immediate First-Team Prospects?
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach, Xabi Alonso, is considering bringing Natali into the first-team squad for the pre-season training camp. This would provide an excellent opportunity for the young defender to prove his worth over the summer. It’s a crucial test for one of Italy’s most exciting young prospects, who is now poised to make his mark with the German giants.
