Forgotten Italy talent Pellegri eyes Serie A comeback after returning to Torino training

Forgotten Italy talent Pietro Pellegri is back in training with Torino after a series of injury nightmares, and is reportedly hoping to make his mark in Serie A once domestic football returns after the international break.

Pellegri eyes Serie A return after injury nightmare

Pellegri, 25, was once tipped for great things after becoming the youngest ever Serie A debutant at the time of his first Genoa appearance, aged 15 years and 280 days old. He was also the first Italian player born in the 21st century to appear and the first player of any nationality born in the 21st century to score in Serie A.

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He is still the only 16-year-old player to score a brace in any of Europe's top five leagues.

Pellegri would go on to join Monaco in January of 2018 at a reported cost of €25m including bonuses, the second-highest fee ever paid for a 16-year-old. He would go on to become the first player born in the 21st century to score in Ligue 1 and also beat Kylian Mbappe's record as the youngest player to feature in Ligue 1 for Monaco.

He was then sent out on an unproductive loan spell to Milan before joining Torino on loan with an option to buy, which was activated in the summer of 2022.

TURIN, ITALY – MAY 18: Pietro Pellegri of Torino FC runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan during the Serie A TIM match between Torino FC and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 18, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

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Since then, Pellegri has been plagued by injuries and has only appeared for Torino in Serie A on 42 occasions since his transfer was made permanent over four years ago. His last appearance for the Granata came at the back end of the 2023-24 season.

Pellegri has since been sent out on two season-long loan deals to Empoli, but suffered major cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in both seasons, and required reconstructive surgery in January of 2026.

EMPOLI, ITALY – NOVEMBER 25: Pietro Pellegri of Empoli FC in action during the Serie A match between Empoli and Udinese at Stadio Carlo Castellani on November 25, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

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