Promising young Empoli defender Tommaso Rugani is making waves in Italian football. The 17-year-old center-back, who has been with Empoli for a decade, recently received his first call-up to Italy’s Under-18 national team.
Rugani expressed his excitement about representing Italy in an interview with Calciomercato, stating, “It’s always a great source of pride. I’ve always thought about it, but I didn’t expect to reach this level so soon. I remember my first call-up to the Under-15 team, which was an incredible emotion, but it’s always very special to receive the call to join the national team.”
The young defender highlighted the evolving role of defenders in modern football. “Today, the role of the defender has changed a lot compared to the past,” Rugani explained. “You don’t just have to defend, mark, and prevent goals, but defenders are now asked to play the ball, start the action, and even attack spaces. It’s almost as if we’re joining the midfielders.”
Rugani cited Matthijs De Ligt as his primary role model, admiring the Dutch defender’s marking ability, physical strength, and heading prowess. He also mentioned Alessandro Bastoni as an Italian example he looks up to, particularly for his contributions to both defense and attack.
When asked about Empoli’s successful youth system, Rugani attributed it to the club’s family-like atmosphere and their courage in promoting young players to the first team. “Most of the players in the youth sector arrive at Empoli as young children and grow up with the club. We all know the environment well, and it’s almost like a second family. When you’re in such a family, everything becomes easier,” he said.
Looking to the future, Rugani shared his dreams: “Making my Serie A debut with Empoli would be a dream come true. Then, of course, there’s the dream that everyone has – playing for the senior national team, maybe in European Championships or World Cups. That would be amazing.”
