Giulio Mola, head of the sports desk at Il Giorno, exposes the hidden world of Italian youth football in his book “Piccoli calciatori. Grandi sogni” (Diarkos). With a foreword by former midfielder Antonio Di Gennaro, Mola shines a light on the pressure, manipulation, and financial exploitation lurking behind the sport’s seemingly innocent surface.
Mola describes a system where ambitious parents fall prey to so- called “shark agents” who promise a path to professional football, for a fee. Fake training camps, dubious trials and exploitative contracts. Children often become pawns in a marketplace dominated by adults chasing status and money. “Some pay hundreds of euros just for their child’s profile to circulate among clubs from Serie A to Serie C,” Mola writes.
The issue has caught the attention of Italy’s Federal Prosecutor, with investigations underway into these exploitative practices. Yet, systemic change seems unlikely. Mola stresses that while talent varies, the courage to pursue a dream is universal.
His advice to families is simple but vital: remember that football is, above all, a game. Protect the joy and growth it brings to young players, and never forget that there is always another chance on the pitch.
Be the first to comment