Riccardo Braschi handed first Fiorentina start at 19 against Genoa | OneFootball

Fiorentina have handed 19-year-old striker Riccardo Braschi his first senior start in Sunday’s Serie A meeting with Genoa.

The Florence-born centre-forward stands six foot three and came through the Viola’s youth ranks. Born in August 2006, he belongs to a generation yet to see Italy win a World Cup knockout match. According to Football Italia, he has trained regularly with the first team this season.

Braschi has remained a key figure for the U19s, scoring 17 goals and providing five assists in 27 Primavera outings this term.

Stefano Pioli was the first to call him up to a senior squad. He was named among the substitutes against Polissya in the Conference League play-offs in August, then again for the Serie A opener away to Cagliari.

Paolo Vanoli later gave him a senior debut, sending him on for the final eight minutes of a 2-1 win over Rakow Czestochowa in March.

His Serie A debut followed on Monday night with Moise Kean injured, when he came on at half-time to replace Albert Gudmundsson at centre-forward.

With Kean still unavailable this weekend, Vanoli has turned to the teenager.

Source: Football Italia