By Fabrizio Romano | New York Times Sports | October 4, 2051
LONDON — At just 19 years old, Valerio Mazzocco has already begun to justify the “wonderkid” label attached to him since his days at Inter. The Italian right-back, currently on loan at Olympique Lyonnais from Chelsea, is developing into one of Europe’s most promising young defenders.
Chelsea secured Mazzocco in a £29.5 million deal from Inter, beating off strong interest across Serie A. His first season at Stamford Bridge saw him adapt quickly to the Premier League, before being sent to Ligue 1 this year for regular first-team football. The move is already paying dividends: seven league appearances for Lyon have yielded one goal, one assist, and a string of consistent performances averaging above a 7.0 rating.
Standing at 171 cm, Mazzocco combines agility and balance with strong defensive intelligence. His ability to play both as a traditional full-back and as a wing-back gives managers tactical flexibility. His statistics at Lyon highlight his strengths: a passing accuracy above 85%, over two successful dribbles per match, and an impressive 2.9 tackles per game.
At Chelsea, his long-term path is shaped by a generational balance. While Diego Vargas — the Chilean wonderkid signed from Colo Colo — emerges as a left-sided wing-back, Mazzocco is his mirror on the right. Both are the same age, both are developing quickly, and insiders at Cobham see them as twin pillars of the club’s future defensive structure. Vargas offers explosive power on the left, while Mazzocco brings tactical maturity and composure on the right.
Internationally, Mazzocco is already making waves with Italy’s U21s, scoring twice in 14 youth caps. Born in Bussnago, he remains tied to his roots while learning abroad, and is even eligible for French nationality if he continues his development there. Scouts note his maturity as much as his technical gifts, pointing to his level-headed personality and professionalism as key assets in his rise.
Manager Calin Dimario has spoken highly of both Vargas and Mazzocco, believing they represent a new Chelsea generation. “They’ll grow up together and raise standards together,” one source at the club said. For Lyon, Mazzocco’s loan spell is proving a major boost as they chase domestic and European goals this season. For Chelsea, it is the foundation of a backline built to last.
With a career trajectory already trending upward, Valerio Mazzocco embodies the blend of defensive reliability and modern attacking thrust that top clubs demand. Alongside Vargas, he symbolizes Chelsea’s strategy of building around elite youth — a pair of wing-backs who could dominate their flanks for the next decade.