New Leao – Highly-rated Juventus attacking youngster ditches Nigeria, dreams of Italy call-up

Dubbed as the new Leao, highly-rated Juventus attacking youngster, Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale, has declared he wants to play for the Italian national team, Soccernet.ng reports.

The fleet-footed winger was born on the 23rd of April, 2009 to Nigerian parents in Italy, and is currently going through the ranks at the Juventus Football Academy.

The Italian U-17 left-winger is currently on International duty with the Italian youth team, for the ongoing UEFA U-17 Euro qualification and found the back of the net in his side’s 2-1 win against Croatia, coming off the bench to seal the win for Gli Azzuri.

The two Italy U17 goal scorers on Instagram

“See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil” pic.twitter.com/KlWUarBKeC

— Italy Focus (@theitalyfocus) March 26, 2025

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What Elimoghale said

Following Italy’s victory against Croatia, the versatile 15-year-old attacker cited Neymar as his idol, although he’s widely named after AC Milan and Portugal star, Rafael Leao by his teammates.

The future pic.twitter.com/VRoOudnNvH

— Italy Focus (@theitalyfocus) March 22, 2025

Additionally, the youngster considers Juventus to be home, revealing he wants to be the next Paul Pogba for the Old Ladies, whilst admitting he dreams of a call-up to the Italian National team, killing the chances of the Super Eagles gunning for him.

“For me, the national team is everything. It is something extraordinary because not everyone can wear the blue shirt. My future will, therefore, still be in blue hues, and I can not wait to fight to become a U-17 European Champion,” Elimoghale said in quotes revealed by Calcio Mercato.

Quizzed about the weight of wearing the number eleven jersey currently donned by Kenan Yildiz in the Juventus first team, the youngster added he loved the weight and the slight pressure it gives him.

“I have always looked at the great talents spent in senior team and in particular, it is Kenan Yildiz I try to imitate the most. On his shoulders, he always wears the number 11 shirt also because like the 10, it’s a nice heavy number, especially at Juventus.

“It was worn in black and white by Paul Pogba, and I consider him the player to be taken for example, among the historical ones of the Juve first team.”

Elimoghale won’t be the first Italian with Nigerian roots not to play for the Super Eagles. Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udogie and Fiorentina’s Michael Folorunsho also trod the same path.