Italian football is desperate for a new hero, with the generation of Francesco Totti and Gianluigi Buffon coming to an end, and Patrick Cutrone is emerging as the next big star, the natural heir to the iconic Filippo Inzaghi.
Much was made of AC Milan's search for a forward in the summer, unsuccessful pursuits of both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Andrea Belotti left many supporters fearing a season which lacked firepower in front of goal.
Yet Cutrone's emergence has given the Rossoneri a glimpse into their future, he has burst onto the scene and can't stop scoring. In his first season with the senior team he is the top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, more than Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic, the club's two high profile summer signings.
The aforementioned pair cost the Italian giants a combined 75 million euros in the summer, yet the performances of the academy graduate have relegated them to expensive understudies.
A disastrous start to the season left the club fearing their newly embarked upon Chinese led project was destined to be a disaster, however they haven't lost now since December 23.
They have registered 14 points in their last six Serie A matches and are in with a chance of qualifying for the second knockout round of the Europa League.
Cutrone was always destined for success, his record of 43 goals in 67 matches with Milan's youth team showed his goal-scoring prowess, the question was always just when to propel him into the senior environment.
His youth record extended to the international arena too, in 57 international matches at youth level, the 20-year-old scored 31 goals.
Few Italian forwards have been able to find the net with such regularity since Inzaghi himself, especially not at Milan.
He has been with the club since the age of eight, he feels the colours of the club as if he was a supporter in the stands and this only further ingratiates him with the club's fans.
Supporters will always favour the club's star players, yet knowing that there is one of their own within the team creates a special connection.
It's no coincidence that both Milan and Cutrone's improvement has come since Gennaro Gattuso took charge following Vincenzo Montella's dismissal.
The former Italian international has nurtured the prodigious talent, but also attempted to keep his feet firmly on the ground.
"Cutrone must improve, but when you consider his age it's clear he's young enough to grow," he explained."Sometimes he loses possession too much, but he's young."He's talented and can be called up by the national team."
The national team is in desperate need of a new icon, the morale is at an all-time low after they failed to even qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
With eyes already turned to qualifying for Euro 2020, the whole of Italy already sees Cutrone as their great hope.
The forward doesn't stand out for his silky touches or an ability to take on a defender with skill, he is a penalty area player, he is so sharp when there is a chance to score and it makes all the difference.
Inzaghi himself has even gone as far as praising the young star with comparisons made with himself during his own playing career.
"The only thing Cutrone has in his mind is Milan and scoring goals," he intimated."With such an attitude he can reach anywhere he wishes."
A senior international call-up is still yet to arrive, however it can't be far away, he is on the radar of interim coach, Luigi di Biagio and should his domestic form continue it's likely to be in the next round of friendly matches.
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