From the AC Milan academy to San Siro: Adam Bakoune takes his first Serie A steps

AC Monza and rising prospect Adam Bakoune officially announced his arrival in the top flight, starting in his club's Serie A opener against defending champions Inter Milan.

Read Also: Serie A: Inter Milan crush Monza (4-1) and make a statement

A baptism of fire at San Siro

Monza faced a daunting task in their Matchday 1 clash, ultimately falling to a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of Inter Milan. Despite the tough team result, Bakoune's individual performance offered plenty of promise.

The 20 year old right back held his own in his top flight debut, earning a respectable 6.3/10 match rating from the global statistics platform Sofascore.

Facts you need to know about Adam Bakoune

For fans just being introduced to the young defender, here are the key highlights of his rapidly developing career:

• Bakoune was born in Wrocław, Poland, to Moroccan parents, before his entire family immigrated to Italy during his childhood
  
• Thanks to his unique background, the full-back is eligible to represent three different national teams: Morocco, Poland and Italy. He has already featured prominently for Italy across various youth levels, recently making his debut for the U21 squad
  
• Bakoune is a product of the prestigious AC Milan academy having joined the Rossoneri at a very young age. He made a significant impact with the U20 (Primavera) squad, racking up 82 appearances while contributing 2 goals and 9 assists
  
• After leaving Milan to join Monza on a free transfer in 2025, Bakoune gained valuable senior experience last season. He played 18 matches in Serie B, providing 2 assists

This steady progression has seen his valuation on Transfermarkt double since the start of the year jumping from €600,000 to €1.2 million.

Throwing a 20 year old defender into the starting lineup against a powerhouse like Inter Milan is a massive show of faith from the Monza coaching staff.

While a 4-1 defeat is never the ideal scenario for a debut, the experience will be invaluable for Bakoune's development.

His versatility, pace, and tactical education from the AC Milan academy make him a highly functional modern wing back. Furthermore, his international future remains a massive talking point, the Moroccan FA will likely intensify their scouting and recruitment efforts to secure his allegiance before the Italian senior team comes calling.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Monza

Inter

Serie A Italy