Collecchio, 25 March 2026 – Every footballer dreams of making their debut in Serie A, but each step along the journey brings new opportunities and challenges. The transition from the U20 side to the First Team represents a crucial moment, marked by excitement but also responsibility: visibility increases, as do expectations and the pressures linked to performance. Growing into the professional game is never easy, and football is no exception. As the competitive level rises, so too does the demand both technically and mentally, making the ability to manage pressure and increasingly complex dynamics essential.

For this reason, Parma Calcio 1913 – long committed to the all-round development of its athletes – has launched the project “Next Step: Managing the Transition with Awareness” for the 2025/26 season. The initiative is aimed at the club’s Primavera players and seeks to provide tools, knowledge and skills to help them approach this transition with greater awareness and effectiveness, not only from a technical and physical standpoint but also emotionally and mentally.

Part of the programme included a meeting held today in the press room at Collecchio, attended by the U20 squad and two First Team players, Hans Nicolussi Caviglia and Christian Ordoñez, who shared their experiences and spoke about what it means to make the leap into professional football.

The initiative represented an important opportunity for learning and discussion, encouraging reflection on the essential qualities of a professional player, as well as on managing difficulties and developing strategies ahead of the step up to the First Team. During this first session, the main challenges linked to this transition were explored, focusing on key aspects such as awareness, perseverance, adaptability and a sense of responsibility — all fundamental elements in supporting both sporting performance and personal well-being.

The project forms part of the Club’s broader strategy aimed at fostering the complete development of its players, not only from a technical and physical perspective but also on a psychological and relational level. Among the themes addressed were the development of a multidimensional personal identity and the value of direct dialogue with First Team players, offering practical insights to help young footballers approach the step into the senior game with greater clarity and maturity.