AC Milan weigh careful path for teenage Morocco prospect Akram Jadid

AC Milan have brought 15-year-old Akram Jadid into first-team training, with the Italian club viewing the Moroccan youth international as an outstanding talent whose strongest quality is his exceptional relationship with the ball.

Jadid has attracted attention after scoring 700 goals in youth football while regularly playing above his age group. However, the excitement surrounding the Italo-Moroccan teenager is being accompanied by a cautious approach, with AC Milan determined not to rush his development or expose him to excessive publicity at such an early stage.

According to information gathered by Afrik-Foot, the club regard Jadid as a player of the highest potential. His technical ability is considered his defining attribute, while his comfort using either foot has already given him a valuable advantage.

That versatility also makes his eventual position difficult to define. Jadid can operate as a number 10, a striker, behind a central forward or in a wide position. Such flexibility is not unusual for a player of his age, as young footballers often settle into their long-term roles only as their physical and tactical development progresses.

For now, it is his creativity, ability to beat opponents and attacking instinct that set him apart.

There is, though, still considerable room for physical development. Jadid’s body is naturally far from fully developed, and AC Milan are expected to avoid taking shortcuts with a player who has only recently begun to attract wider attention.

His family are also conscious of the need for a carefully managed progression. Jadid’s parents recognise that their son possesses rare potential and are paying close attention to his development. They want AC Milan to build a genuine sporting project around him and do not want his progress to lose momentum.

That approach has been compared, with all due proportion, to the way the Mbappe family managed the development of Kylian Mbappe.

Morocco or Italy?

Jadid’s international future could become an increasingly significant issue. He holds both Moroccan and Italian nationality, was born and developed entirely in Italy, but has already represented Morocco at Under-16 level.

Italy will logically look to retain a player who was developed within its football system. The country’s youth development structure has lost much of its former prestige, but a player of Jadid’s potential could still be viewed as an important asset for the Azzurri.

Until a few years ago, Italy might have appeared the natural choice for a player with Jadid’s background. The balance has since shifted considerably.

Italy, who have not played at a World Cup since 2014, have struggled to restore their previous standing. Morocco, meanwhile, have steadily established themselves as a global football power, supported by a structured project and impressive results across their age-group teams.

That has created an unusual situation for a highly rated dual-national player: Morocco may now appear more attractive than Italy from a sporting perspective.

Nothing is settled at the age of 15. But Akram Jadid is a name likely to feature regularly in discussions about AC Milan and the two national teams in the years ahead.