Antonio Raimondo, a flurry of goals, and the top clubs are dreaming: it’s already a four-way race for the young striker
Antonio Raimondo is proving to be one of the most intriguing surprises of this early Serie A season. The Frosinone striker continues to score and impress, and he did so again in Friday night’s match against Sassuolo, netting two goals in less than five minutes around the half-hour mark before completing his hat trick in the second half: The league’s top clubs are taking even closer note of this talented player, born on March 18, 2004.
The numbers speak for themselves: seven league goals and another in the Coppa Italia for Raimondo, who has been steadily improving—a trend that hasn’t gone unnoticed. After scoring eleven goals last season in Serie B, the move up a division doesn’t seem to have posed any particular problems for him: on the contrary, Serie A is confirming the qualities of a center forward who has been considered one of the most promising attacking prospects in Italian soccer for years.
His excellent start to the season with Frosinone has also been noted by scouts close to Bologna, the club that owns his rights and where Raimondo came up through the youth ranks before going on loan to Ternana, Venezia, Salernitana, and—since last season— the Giallazzurri of Ciociaria.
Bologna itself finds itself in a very unique position today. This past summer, the Rossoblù renewed the player’s contract through 2028 before sending him back on loan to Frosinone, with the aim of allowing him to gain experience and playing time at the highest level. However, his performances in the first few weeks of the season could prompt the club’s management to reassess his future.
Among the top clubs, there are already those willing to invest significant sums, and Juventus, Milan, and Inter are watching closely. The Bianconeri are looking for goals and consistency from their offense, while the Rossoneri have made no secret of their need to boost their attack’s scoring output.
Inter is also in the background and could consider Raimondo, especially if Lautaro Martinez’s departure becomes a reality. In such a scenario, Pio Esposito would be set to take over the Nerazzurri captain’s role at the center of the attack, while Raimondo could fill the very role currently held by the young Azzurri forward, becoming his top alternative in the attacking pecking order.
Keep an eye on Roma as well. The Giallorossi are more than satisfied with Donyell Malen’s performance, but there has long been talk of the need to pair him with—or provide him with—a reliable backup for the future. With this in mind, a young Italian forward like Raimondo—who has already made his mark in Serie A—would be a particularly attractive prospect. The Giallorossi also benefit from their good relations with Bologna, demonstrated by several recent transfer deals, most notably the Dovbyk-Castro swap.
