Monaco signs the ‘New Messi’ Pietro Pellegri

CAIRO – 29 January 2018: AS Monaco announced on Saturday the hiring of Italian striker Pietro Pellegri, who used to play in the ranks of Genoa.

Monaco has disbursed €25 million for the signing and Genoa reserves 10 percent of the money.

Pietro is nearly 16 years old and has only played 15 matches as a professional player, which is why his news has caused quite a commotion. The teen has already scored seven goals and has broken all precocity records in Serie A.

"Je suis très heureux de rejoindre l’AS Monaco. J’ai très vite été convaincu du projet qui permet à des jeunes comme moi de pouvoir progresser et s’épanouir dans le futur. Je vais travailler dur pour devenir un joueur important du club."

_____ Pietro Pellegri 🇲🇨 pic.twitter.com/btKoH7vwdk

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 27, 2018

The young forward debuted on December 22, 2016 at 15 years and 280 days old; equaling a record held by Amadeo Amadei since May 2, 1937, when he played his first game with Roma.

On September 18, 2017 he became the youngest player to score a double in the Italian League (Serie A), beating the mythical Silvio Piola, who achieved it in 1931 with Pro Vercelli.

Nonetheless, Piola is the top scorer in Serie A history with 290 goals and he participated decisively in the conquest of the 1938 World Cup, the second in Italy, scoring two goals in the final against Hungary (4-2), which ended in Italy’s favor.

Pietro is the third youngest player to score in the Italian League. It is not surprising that in his country he is known as the 'new Messi'.

The young Italian striker was very excited about this new stage: "I am very happy to arrive in Monaco, I like their project [that aims] to help young people progress and I am going to work to be an important player in this club.”