The German-Italian defender Matteo Palma is just 17 years old. Nevertheless, he is already getting his first minutes in Serie A – and could have a great future ahead of him.
Some German legionnaires who earn their money in the Italian Serie A are well known to fans. For example, Robin Gosens, who is fighting against relegation with AC Florence. Yann Bisseck, who is at the other end of the table with Inter Milan. Or Nicolas Kühn, who has found his home in Como. The name Matteo Palma, however, is much less familiar.
The central defender has been under contract with Udinese Calcio since summer 2024 and has already played eight times across all competitions this season. Five times in the league for a total of 115 minutes and three more times in the cup. A record that seems relatively unspectacular at first glance – but is by no means so. Because Palma is only 17 years old.
Matteo Palma (l.) in a duel with Kenan Yldiz (r.) ‘
In Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Pisa, the German youth international was on the pitch again for 16 minutes and helped secure the draw. The fact that the youngster is continuously increasing his playing time and enjoying the trust of coach Kosta Runjaić is anything but a given.
Perhaps it helps that he was already shaped at the age of 16 by one of the true greats of Italian football: Fabio Cannavaro – World Champion and captain of the Squadra Azzurra in 2006.
“Something Special”: Learned from Cannavaro
“It was, of course, something special to be coached by a Ballon d’Or winner,” Palma answered in an interview with Bild when asked about Cannavaro. Cannavaro had saved Udinese from relegation in 2024 and subsequently left the club again,
“He taught us defenders an enormous amount – for example, about the correct distance to attackers, preparation for individual opponents, or heading,” Palma revealed.
Cannavaro gave him almost everything a defender needs, enthusiastic Palma, who came to Italy early: “I started at Hertha in the U9 and lived with my mother in Berlin. After a few years, I moved to Italy with my dad – which then led to the move to Udinese.”
Matteo Palma wants to decide between Germany and Italy
Meanwhile, things are going well even without his mentor Cannavaro.
Schlotterbeck is a role model for Palma
However, the World Champion is not an immediate role model for him. Palma names Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk – and also Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.
“Schlotterbeck is not only physically very good but also strong on the ball. That is extremely important in modern football, even for central defenders. I want to have that mix too; I’m working on it,” Palma explained. He himself has already played for the German U16 and U17 national teams.
There, Palma also met a player who is now well known in the Bundesliga: Lennart Karl.
“During a training camp, we even shared the same room. It was always fun with him – also because you could already see back then what potential he had. I’m absolutely delighted that Lennart is making such a breakthrough at Bayern; that’s incredibly strong,” he emphasized.
Whether the two will continue to meet in the DFB jersey in the future is, however, unclear.
Will Palma Choose Germany?
The central defender, who is currently in tenth place in the secured midfield of Serie A with Udinese, is the son of an Italian-Austrian father and a German-Cameroonian mother.
Theoretically, he could therefore play for four national teams. However, the realistic decision will be between Germany and Italy – but not in the near future.
“These are both huge football nations. I feel great with the DFB, but of course, I can’t yet say what the next few years will bring. Currently, I want and need to perform first for Udinese – everything else is a fantastic bonus,” Palma said. In the U15, he still wore Italy’s jerseys but then switched to the German junior teams.
Palma’s short-term goal is to stay with Udinese “in the upper half of the Serie A table.”
Long-term, the 17-year-old thinks bigger: “I want to stay injury-free, develop with joy, and eventually win titles. Ideally, play in the Champions League and be part of a World Cup. These are big dreams – but I am ready to work hard for them.”