Juve Stabia, led by Pagliuca, was undoubtedly the surprise package of the Serie B championship. As a newly promoted side, they defied expectations by finishing fifth, securing a place in the Serie A promotion playoffs and reaching the semi-finals before being overcome by eventual winners Cremonese.
However, the plaudits for the `Vespe` (Juve Stabia`s nickname) season extend beyond just results. Many young players under the age of 25 also distinguished themselves with remarkably consistent performances. Among the most promising young talents was Niccolò Fortini, born in 2006, who spent the season on loan from Fiorentina. He successfully carved out a crucial role for himself as the starting left wing-back in coach Pagliuca`s 3-4-1-2 system.
The Tuscan native from Camaiore made a significant impact, featuring in 26 matches (24 of which were starts). He found the back of the net twice – once in a convincing 3-0 victory over Cosenza and scoring the decisive goal in the derby clash against Salernitana. He also contributed 4 assists throughout the regular season. Fortini started the playoff preliminary match against Palermo but unfortunately suffered a muscular injury after only 29 minutes. This forced him to end his impressive season prematurely and return to Fiorentina`s Viola Park training ground for recovery treatment. Fortini also enjoyed consistent call-ups for the Italy Under 19 national team under coach Bollini, participating in all fixtures except a friendly against Spain. He registered his first international goal in a 3-3 friendly draw against Wales. Regrettably, the U19 squad narrowly missed out on qualifying for the European Championship finals, finishing second in a challenging group that included France, Spain, and Latvia, remaining undefeated but left to rue a 1-1 draw against Latvia.
Fortini`s outstanding displays as a 19-year-old have understandably attracted interest from various clubs, including Napoli and Juventus in Italy, and Bayer Leverkusen internationally. Nevertheless, Fiorentina holds strong belief in the player, who has been part of their youth academy since the age of eight. He is set to join the senior squad for the pre-season training camp at Viola Park under the guidance of the newly appointed head coach, Stefano Pioli. Pioli is making his return to the club after previously managing them from 2017 to 2019 and representing them as a player from 1989 to 1995. This summer will undoubtedly present Niccolò with a series of crucial examinations. In addition to completing his school leaving exams, he faces the challenge of proving himself and securing a permanent place within the senior Viola squad.
A key step for Fortini will involve a tactical adaptation. He will transition from the demanding role of a wide player covering the entire flank in a three-man defense to likely operating as a traditional full-back within the 4-2-3-1 formation, which is Pioli`s favored system. Fortini certainly possesses the technical skills and athletic ability required for this position. Considering Pioli`s recent success in developing players like Theo Hernandez – an attacking-minded left-back – there`s promising potential for the player from Camaiore. It`s also worth noting Fortini`s considerable versatility; until the Under 17 level, he primarily played as an attacking winger. Despite being right-footed, he mainly plays on the left side but is also capable of playing on the right flank. He has experience in both three- and four-man defensive setups, suggesting Pioli will likely find the optimal position to harness his qualities effectively for the team`s benefit.
In the LGI Almanac 2024/25, Fortini was compared to Leonardo Spinazzola, partly due to his successful transition from an attacking winger to a full-back. Hopefully, as a positive sign, his attributes are also reminiscent of another notable player who, like the Umbrian winger Spinazzola, achieved success with the national team: Gianluca Zambrotta. These are inspiring figures for Niccolò to emulate. For the immediate future, the primary hope is that he can successfully transfer his excellent Serie B performances to Serie A and potentially the Conference League, proudly wearing the Fiorentina shirt that has been instrumental in his development as a footballer.
