Arena will join Gasperini’s first team in preseason

Will Antonio Arena become the number 9 of the future? It’s too early to say, but the 2009-born player has certainly caught Gasperini’s eye: “He piqued my interest in training.”

Even before that, Silvio Baldini launched him into the ranks at Pescara: “He’ll go far.”

In short, anyone who knows him is ready to bet on the qualities of Arena, who scored his first goal for Roma this year in the Coppa Italia against Torino: a cross from Wesley and a perfect header past Palerari.

Antonio Arena is the most interesting player emerging from Roma’s youth academy.

As reported by Corriere dello Sport , barring any surprises, the 2009-born player will be involved by Gian Piero Gasperini in the first days of the summer retreat to prepare for next season.

This year, the former Pescara player played three years under his age in the Primavera championship, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances and providing four assists.

Arena also played in the final minutes of Roma’s Serie A matches against Cagliari and Lecce .