CAGNAZZO: Milan wonderkid Francesco Camarda, 15, could be the new Michael Owen

AC Milan teenage sensation Francesco Camarda could be the new golden boy of Italian football.

His extraordinary rise is reminiscent to that of Michael Owen, who burst onto the scene at 1998 World Cup and went on to win the 2001 Ballon d'Or.

Camarda doesn't yet have a professional contract, but has already scored seven goals in 13 games at youth level and Stefano Pioli is considering bringing him into the first team squad for their clash with Fiorentina on Saturday.

Compared to Owen, he has greater physical strength but less technique. Camarda can represent for the Rossoneri club what Owen represented for Liverpool: an icon, a flag to wave to remember how the academies of the top Italian clubs can produce exceptional talent.

Camarda, who is only 15, still needs to strengthen physically, but after growing a few centimetres over the summer, he now stands at a little over 6ft.

He has just taken his place in the Milan first team dressing room while his peers are busy at school from Monday to Friday. He is living a dream, but must be careful not to get ahead of himself.

Owen was part of a Liverpool side with great expectations on them, but Milan won the Scudetto just 18 months ago and this could ease the pressure on Camarda as he looks to make his way in the senior game.

As a child, he was also interested in kickboxing and his muscular elasticity combined with the speed of his movements could be the new unpredictable weapon of the Milan attack.

Owen had a different physical structure and an impressive technique that is not even remotely comparable to that of Camarda. However, both have received the backing of a huge club, and the Milan striker has the same angelic face as the former English forward.

In the Rossoneri youth teams,