Arriving at AC Milan at just 10 years of age in 2002, Mattia De Sciglio has represented the club at various levels and established himself as a shining example of the club's ability to develop young talent.
Having enjoyed initial success with the Primavera squad, he was earmarked as a future star at an early age, and the initial signs were promising when he broke into the senior side in 2011. De Sciglio quickly established himself as a great prospect and a potential symbol of the club given how he had ultimately grown up with the Rossoneri.
Although his performances were never particularly extravagant, his consistency was hugely impressive along with his defensive solidity, decision-making and desire to get forward.
Lazy comparisons were immediately drawn between him and Paolo Maldini given the similarities in their respective games, and perhaps that pressure contributed to his dip in form along with numerous frustrating injury setbacks. Nevertheless, the Milan icon, along with his former teammates, was quick to lavish praise on the youngster.
"Mattia has everything to become a top class footballer," Maldini said in 2014. "Although he is still young, he has already racked up many appearances in Serie A and in international competitions. He is in the national team and that is good."
"He possesses great quality," Franco Baresi had stated earlier that year. "He's shown it ever since he was very young. I remember Paolo when he started out -- he played with a boldness and confidence, but also provided security. De Sciglio has those qualities too."
The Italian international has been limited in the time that has passed since by injuries, as they have taken their toll and prevented him from playing consistently. Furthermore, with changes in management came different preferences and he floated in and out of the team as well as on different flanks.
De Sciglio's versatility, defensive ability and energy all still stand out, and after making an impressive appearance as a substitute in Italy's opening game at Euro 2016 on Monday night, it is hoped that he has convinced Antonio Conte that he deserves more playing time.
Now 23, with over 100 appearances for Milan already under his belt and as an established international, De Sciglio will be desperate to take his game to the next level in the coming years and will hope to play a fundamental role in the next Milan coach's plans.
The full-back has insisted this week that he had encountered a difficult period in his career, and it subsequently affected his confidence significantly. However, he believes that he had a breakthrough at the end of last season where he began to play at the level that he knows he's capable of, and it's important that he builds on that momentum with the Azzurri in the coming weeks.
Speculation has suggested that both Juventus and Real Madrid are keen on signing him, but his agent, Donato Orgnoni, has insisted that he will remain at the San Siro moving forward. He also made a valid point regarding the fact that Milan's general troubles in the last three years have made it difficult for any player to impress, and the media has certainly exaggerated De Sciglio's shortcomings on occasion.
Perhaps that is a result of the fact that many acknowledge how good De Sciglio is, and can be in the future. Having fallen short of his standards, he's an easy target for many but ultimately he's still seen differently by supporters given his Milan roots.
Guilty on occasion of lacking concentration and discipline, it's been a learning curve for the youngster and it's hoped that it has used it in a positive way to continue to improve and develop. De Sciglio has frustrated in recent times as his career stagnated at a time when many Milan fans expected him to push on and reach that next level that the likes of Maldini and Baresi expected of him.
While competition from Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonelli will be a challenge that he has to embrace again next season, neither are getting any younger as they both edge closer to 30. In turn, De Sciglio remains a pillar of AC Milan's future if he can put his troubles behind him, stay fit and play consistently well.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessio Romagnoli took many of the plaudits last season for their performances but it's hoped that De Sciglio will reappear on that list of homegrown youngsters ready to take Milan forward.
