How often do you see a 20-year old full back settle into one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world and then look like an experienced veteran who’s been at numerous European and world championships for his country? The answer is simple: Not very often.

Mattia De Sciglio is a full back who can play either right or left back as well as to fill in further up the pitch on the right hand side of midfield. The Rossoneri rate De Sciglio extremely highly. And that’s rightly so after seeing the youngster progress through the ranks at the club since 2002 when he was showing his worth for ‘Pulcini,’ which is the name used for the under-9 and under-10’s at the club. Pulcini translates to chicks.

In 2010, at just 17 years of age, he was a key player for the under-20 side that managed to win the Coppa Italia Primavera, which is a competition that is played each year by 42 teams across Italy. After the success of Milan’s performance, this being the first time the side have won the competition for 25 years, De Sciglio was called up to represent his country at under-19 level for the upcoming qualifiers at the under-19 UEFA European Championships where he appeared 8 times, scoring against the Faroe Islands in a 3-0 win. He then also went on to represent his country at under-20 and under-21 level, racking up an impressive 10 appearances. His big step up came in the 2011-12 season when he first showcased his talent to the nation across Italy by being selected for the first team squad where he also made his UEFA Champions League debut. No doubt there were other clubs in Europe keeping a watchful eye on the Rossoneri’s latest nurtured prodigy.

If the pressure for someone of just 18 years of age at the time when he made his debut in the Champions League wasn’t enough, during the following season he was handed the number 2 shirt, which soccer fans can easily associate with a certain Brazilian who wore that number for over five successful years, Cafu. Serie A viewers will know what this young full back had to offer before the Confederations Cup in Brazil as he appeared 25 times for Milan last season showing an immense level of maturity on the ball that is unheard of for someone his age. You’d normally expect a player of his experience in first team football to show some nerves but many of the Nerazzurri’s most passionate fans will admit, albeit not easily, that he was Milan’s biggest threat for large parts of the ‘Derby della Madonnia’ in the 1-1 draw in February this year where he went on bursts down both wings and made a certain Javier Zanetti look bewildered at times.

Cesare Prandelli called up De Sciglio to play Brazil in a friendly for Italy a month after the derby against Inter, which didn’t come as a shock to many Italians. The match ended 2-2, but again he showed what talent he possesses on the world stage. Prandelli liked what he saw in the speedy, versatile full back as he announced him in the Confederations Cup squad heading out to Brazil. Mattia De Sciglio’s ability would be severely put to the test in this warm-up competition for the World Cup in 2014 as he faced group stage matches against Mexico, Japan and Brazil. They gained six points losing to Brazil 4-2 in their final group game, but yet again the inexperienced, full back was arguably one of Italy’s most consistent players throughout the group stage. They beat Uruguay on penalties to place 3rd at the tournament. Luckily they won. Otherwise De Sciglio would have been slaughtered by the press back at home after missing his penalty.

Regarding De Sciglio, will he continue to wear the number 2 shirt at Milan for much longer? It wouldn’t be at all a shock to see a lucrative offer come in from Paris Saint-Germain or another club in Europe where prices of players seem to be irrelevant.

Hopefully Mattia De Sciglio stays in the red and black of the Rossoneri for another season or two as he’s improving game by game. After an impressive Confederations Cup, it looks like he’s solidified a guaranteed spot on the AC Milan team, where he will continue to ply his trade on a team who will be fighting for a Serie A title this coming season.

Borussia Dortmund’s stadium Signal Iduna Park, formerly known as Westfalenstadion until an insurance company secured naming rights until 2021, is arguably one of the most exhilarating sporting venues. The atmosphere generated is electric even hours before kick-off.

The stadium holds 80,720 people; the numbers alone vividly paint a picture of the atmosphere in itself. Matchdays at Dortmund are simply unique as their one stand, ‘The Südtribüne,’ is by far the biggest standing terrace in Europe with a capacity of 24,454, It’s nicknamed the ‘Yellow Wall’ due to the consistency of the volume of noise generated from the diehard Dortmund supporters who wear and hoist yellow paraphernalia in support of their club.

Various clubs across the continent boast of the players they’ve brought through their academies and turned into talented, top drawer performers that produce the goods game after game. ‘La Masia’ jumps into the majority of our minds and rightly so with Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Fabregas — just to name a few who became the players they are. How many of us would nod in agreement and start to strike off names that have shone on the world stage who’ve learnt their trade in Dortmund? Mario Gotze, Nuri Sahin, Kevin Grosskreutz, Marco Reus and so on. The philosophy of the academy at the club is certainly not one to be laughed at by any means.

When manager Jürgen Klopp is unable to bolster his options through the academy, he looks elsewhere where others who are in a position similar to his don’t. Back in 2009 when a young, German centre-back at Bayern Munich wasn’t quite cutting it at Bayern Munich (or so Munich thought), Klopp saw real talent and made sure he secured the services of Mats Hummels for £3.4 million.

Several months later, Klopp saw a striker plying his trade in Poland who had the capabilities he thought were necessary to don the famous yellow and black of Borussia Dortmund. Robert Lewandowski was signed for just over £3.8 million.

Next stop for Klopp was the J-League where a 5ft 7inch attacking midfielder who played for Cerezo Osaka gained a new admirer. Shinji Kagawa, whose ability not only to create chances for others but score a fair few himself, left the average crowd of just over 15,000 in awe most matches. Klopp came to an agreement with the Osaka based club and signed Kagawa for £308,000.

The players mentioned amounted to a total sum of around £7.5 million. Now, in today’s market, you wouldn’t flinch if £80 million was branded for the trio. On the other end of the spectrum, every club has to cash in on individuals when the price is right so they gain at least some profit or minimize their losses. This is where Dortmund also excel and set a bold example that only others wish they could follow.

In recent years they’ve sold Nuri Sahin to Real Madrid for £8.8 million who came through the ranks at the club. Likewise their most recent departure, Mario Gotze – who joined Bayern Munich for £32.5 million. One of their best signings in the last decade, Shinji Kagawa, was sold to Manchester United for £14 million. The way the club goes about their business quite frankly puts clubs who are forever it seems throwing millions around to shame (i.e. Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain).

Furthermore, the way Borussia Dortmund obliterated the Bundesliga for two of the past three seasons and got to the final of Europe’s most prestigious club competition despite narrowly losing out in the last few minutes in extra time — all while keeping a transfer net spend respectable and intact — is startling. In stark comparison, their rivals Bayern Munich, who just edged above them to lift the trophy at Wembley, won’t gain them many friends, certainly at UEFA, with their comparative spend.

Ending on a high note for ‘The Borussians’ (if ever there was a low one), the club ticket prices for Bundesliga matches for season 2012/13 put the vast majority of Premier League clubs and many others around Europe to a new low. Their most expensive match ticket was priced at £42, which offered the best view at the Signal Iduna Park. A ticket price for as little as £7.70 could have got you into the ground last season.

I’m sure Jürgen Klopp and his army of 80,720 aren’t going to go anywhere anytime soon, so be prepared for another exciting season involving Borussia Dortmund.