NIKOS, A SEASON WORTHY OF PRAISE

It’s been a season of maturing both as a footballer and as a man for this player: he’s been a silent leader for the group. Nikolaos Michelis was a key figure in an impressive 20/21 season for the Rossoneri in the Primavera. The 20-year old Greek has cemented himself into a starting centre-back position, showing tremendous solidity and consistency of performance: he made 30 appearances in all competitions, missing just three games.

Nikos has always guided the back-line as if he were a veteran, given his advantage in terms of age and experience over his team-mates. He represented a reliable constant in Coach Giunti’s team selections this season, even though the manager was always keen to throw different kids into the lions den. Tall, gritty, quick, good at marking, improved in his concentration and reading of the game and adept at building up the play.

The cherry-on-top was his two goals: the first was at Vismara, a precise right-footed touch to make it 2-0 against Empoli (the game finished 4-0); the second was at Bergamo, making it 1-0 with a bullet header (the game ended a 1-1 draw). Both from free-kicks, both well-placed, showing his danger at dead-ball situations. Not just that, he had two call-ups to the First Team, at San Siro for Milan-Torino in the Coppa Italia and at the Sardegna Arena when Cagliari hosted the Rossoneri in Serie A.

Michelis’ impressive year was noted by many, especially in the Primavera world: deservedly, he was excitingly picked in the Primavera Top XI and voted best defender in the league. For the Class of 2001, including Nikos, this summer that has just started will be another important moment; in any case, though, the start of the career of this young man, born in Athens, has some very encouraging foundations.

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