Pugno, Owusu, Pagnucco and Rizzo: The youngsters called up for Juve-Bologna

During his pre-match press conference on Friday, head coach Thiago Motta, when answering a question about the squad for Juventus-Bologna, mentioned for Juventus youngsters by name: "We will also have Diego, Nico, Augusto and Filippo with us", continuing the path started last summer of opening the First Team doors to many of the young and promising youngsters coming through the Under-20 and Juventus Next Gen ranks.

Below are brief player profiles of the four players included in the squad for Saturday's Serie A clash at home to Bologna.

DIEGO PUGNO

Let's start with the Under-20 striker Diego Pugno, who was already included in the First Team squad in the previous away fixture in Lecce, against whom he made his Serie A debut, entering the field late in the second half. A very young talent, born on 7 July 2006 (two days before the final of the World Cup won by the Azzurri), Diego arrived at Juventus in 2021, and has played both in the Under-17 and now the Primavera side, making his mark in the UEFA Youth League as well. A striker who is continuing his path of growth, he is quick and blessed with an excellent shot, and is able to play both as a forward and next to another teammate upfront. Like all young Bianconeri, he needs to be given time to mature, while taking advantage of opportunities such as these call-ups to the First Team.

AUGUSTO SEEDORF OWUSU

A second name that reveals better than anything how the 19-year-old Next Gen midfielder plays football, Augusto arrived at Juventus when he was just 7 years old, and has always worn the Bianconeri colours (apart from a season on loan at Reggiana U-19 to gain experience). He has risen through all the ranks in the youth sector, playing an important role in the Serie C team this season. A midfielder capable of playing both a part of and in front of the defence, this is Owuso's second call-up after his first last week in the away match at Lecce.

FILIPPO PAGNUCCO

It's also a second call-up to the First Team for Juventus Primavera captain Filippo Pagnucco - a left-back who is showing enormous versatility and the ability to adapt to various forms of play. Already on the scoresheet on two occasions and a protagonist with 12 appearances with the Under-20 team between the championship and UEFA Youth League, Pagnucco has also been call up several times to the Next Gen side. Born on 9 February 2006, he's an integral part of the National Under-19 team, having arrived in Turin in the summer of 2020 and making his way up the Juventus youth sector ranks, following a path that tells of the work done, the care taken and attention paid to his talent.

NICCOLO RIZZO

Finally, there's Niccolo Rizzo, born on 19 July 2007, a player in the Bianconeri's Under-17 team who made his debut with Magnanelli's Primavera team in the match against Sassuolo on 1 December (with whom he has been called up four times this season) where, following Martinez's expulsion, he played the last 22 minutes in the centre of the Bianconeri defence - in his favourite role. In recent days, he has been training with the First Team and now comes the joy of a call-up and an experience that he will surely remember for the rest of his life, in a professional career that is only at the beginning, with much more to be written.