Dream Transfers: Skriniar joins Sampdoria

It was in January 2016 that Milan Skriniar walked into the Sampdoria trophy room to sign his first contract in Italian football.

Having impressed at Slovakian outfit Zilina, the defender was about to test himself with a huge step up after being identified by the Blucerchiati’s scouting network. It turned out to be quite the spot.

The virtually unknown youngster made 38 appearances at Sampdoria under the stewardship of first Vincenzo Montella and then Marco Giampaolo, forging a reputation as one of the most promising young players in European football and the jewel in the crown of the next generation of Slovakian talent.

Dugout relives the first few hours of the defender’s Samp career.