In the world of football, the pressure to perform can weigh heavily on young players, regardless of their background. For Maximilian Ibra, the son of legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Francesco Camarda, the youngest debutant in Serie A, the expectations are immense. They both play for AC Milan, which has increasingly become a nurturing ground for promising talent.
Maximilian recently made headlines with a stunning debut, scoring twice in his first appearance for Milan Primavera. Similarly, Camarda shone in the Coppa Italia, also netting two goals in what marked his professional debut. Both are forwards and are expected to share the same locker room as they develop their careers within the club.
Maximilian, born in September 2006, is the first child of Zlatan. His father is well aware of the pressures that come with his famous surname. Zlatan has expressed pride in Maximilian’s work ethic, emphasizing that he does not want to treat him differently from any other player. He believes that discipline and hard work are essential, stating, “If you want something, you work for it. You won’t get anything for free here.” His aim as a father is to help Maximilian become independent and resilient in his career.
Those involved with Milan’s youth teams describe Maximilian as polite, humble, and hardworking—qualities that endear him to teammates and coaches alike. He is currently part of Milan Future, a program designed to guide young talents to the first team effectively. Camarda is a prime example of this initiative.
As both players settle into their roles, the future looks bright for them at Milan. Camarda, particularly, is expected to make his way to the first team soon, although it remains to be seen when that will happen. The club’s management is keen on promoting young players and have affirmed their intentions to integrate them into the senior squad without stifling their growth.
Zlatan confirmed this at the recent unveiling of new signing Fofana, declaring, “We don’t want to block the talents in Milan Future.” With established forwards like Álvaro Morata and Luka Jovic already in the mix, Camarda will have opportunities to prove himself, especially with the potential for injuries and suspensions.
As they carve their paths in the football world, both Maximilian and Francesco are set to benefit from the rich tradition of excellence at AC Milan, ensuring they develop into the players they aspire to be.