Niccolò Fortini is one of the burgeoning young Italian left‐backs turning heads in Serie A and Serie B circles, currently on Fiorentina’s books and increasingly under the spotlight for his promise. Born on 13 February 2006, the 19-year-old defender stands about 1.85m tall, plays primarily at left-back, and has developed through Fiorentina’s youth system.
Fortini’s senior breakout came when he was sent on loan to Juve Stabia in the 2024-25 season in Serie B, where he made 26–27 appearances, chipping in with two goals and several assists, and generally gaining praise for his reliability and athleticism. His performances in Serie B fleshed out his reputation: strong going forward, willing in possession, showing attacking thrust from the flank, but also still working on decision-making and defensive consistency.
Back at Fiorentina, Fortini is viewed as someone with high potential. He signed his first professional contract in February 2024, tying him to Fiorentina until at least June 2027. The club has reportedly ruled out sending him out to Serie B again, preferring instead a loan to a Serie A side if a loan for more match experience is considered—pointing to how much faith they place in his development.
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Milan’s Interest
In a recent article by Oliver Fisher (1 October 2025), it was reported that AC Milan are following Fortini with “great interest.” According to journalist Pietro Balzano Prota, Milan are monitoring his growth; there is no current negotiation, but his profile appeals strongly to the Rossoneri. The left-back position at Milan has been in flux: Theo Hernández departed, and Pervis Estupiñán was signed from Brighton to take over the starting role. Davide Bartesaghi serves as backup, and the club seems keen on finding promising young options to complement or eventually succeed current first-team players.
Reports going back several months suggest that Fortini was already on Milan’s radar during the summer transfer window. His strong showing at Juve Stabia, combined with his Italian nationality and youth, make him a good fit within Milan’s growing “Italianisation” strategy – that is, prioritizing promising domestic talents with potential resale value or long-term upward development.
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Risks, Upsides, and What This Could Mean
Upsides:
Fortini already has solid match experience in Serie B, proving he can handle senior football.
He has attacking attributes: overlapping runs, decent final third contributions.
Size and physical profile are good for the modern full-back: aerial ability, stamina.
His age means there’s time for polishing defensive decision-making and positional discipline.
Risks / Challenges:
Transitioning from Serie B to consistent Serie A minutes is non-trivial; the pace, pressure, and tactical demands are greater.
Whether he can displace or challenge established full-backs (like Estupiñán) at a club with high expectations.
Milan’s monitoring might not develop into a concrete bid soon; Fiorentina appear reluctant to let him leave under anything less than favorable terms.
What it could mean if a move happens:
If Milan do move for Fortini, either now or in future windows, it could signal their intent to build for the future, combining youth development with strategic squad depth. He may start as a backup or in rotational roles, possibly even via loan to a smaller Serie A side to get more minutes before pushing for a more regular role. For Fiorentina, keeping him or selling under the right conditions ensures they preserve value for a player in whom they clearly believe.
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In conclusion, Niccolò Fortini is a name to watch. He has shown enough in Serie B to merit serious interest, and his being on Milan’s radar is logical given recent departures, their squad needs on the left, and a strategic inclination toward nurturing young Italian talent. Whether he breaks through at Fiorentina, moves to a club like Milan, or ends up on loan to sharpen his level, his trajectory is one many fans and pundits will follow closely.
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