‘New Lionel Messi’ Pietro Pellegri becomes Serie A’s joint-youngest-ever player after making Genoa debut at age of 15

THE “new Lionel Messi” has made his Serie A debut at the age of 15 — equalling the record for the youngest-ever player.

Secondary school student, Pietro Pellegri, was brought on in place of Tomas Rincon for the final three minutes of Genoa’s 1-0 defeat at Torino.

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Prior to the match, boss had explained prior to the contest that the striker would be travelling to Turin — while adding he would try to protect him.

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His bow at the age of 15 years at 280 days has remarkably equalled the all-time Serie A record set by Roma’s Amedeo Amadei, set in 1937.

Former manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, had likened him to the winner of five Ballon d’Or awards, with remarkably insisting it was his job to keep the then 14-year-old’s feet on the ground.

Speaking last season, he said: “I have with me the new Messi — I just hope he can keep level headed.”

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Pellegri was born on March 17, 2001, and his debut has come at a slightly earlier age than the great Gianni Rivera, who is considered one of Italy’s best-ever players.

The baby striker is quite an imposing figure at 6”2 has been likened to Christian Vieri, who was another sensational Azzurri hitman in the late-90s and early 2000s.

Pellegri has been playing in the Genoa youth teams — alongside players two or three years older than him.

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And the team manager is his father, Marco.

Recently, Serie A had its first-ever player born in this millennium, as 16-year-old Moise Kean made his Juventus debut.

While, despite being well-known for managing ageing players so well, Italy has recently started producing superb young talent, such AC Milan duo, Manuel Locatelli and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Torino won the match 1-0 through Premier League target, Andrea Belotti's 49th-minute winner.

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