Zambia U20 midfielder Joseph Liteta has shared his excitement after scoring his first goal in Italian football and reflected on a strong debut season with Cagliari U20 in an exclusive interview with BolaNews.
Born in Lusaka, the 19-year-old rose through the ranks at Morning Stars Academy before joining Atletico Lusaka. His talent quickly earned him a place in the national setup, starring for Zambia at U17 level before making the step up to U20.
Liteta secured a move to Serie A side Cagliari Calcio in mid-2024 from Zambian Super League side Atletico Lusaka. He was integrated into the U20 squad competing in Primavera 1, Italy’s top youth league.
His first season in Europe ended on a high note as Cagliari lifted the Coppa Italia Primavera after a convincing 3-0 win over Milan U20 in the final. Liteta played a pivotal role in the title run, converting a shootout penalty in the quarterfinals against Fiorentina before starting both the semifinals and final.
The playmaker capped off his campaign in style by scoring his maiden goal for Cagliari U20 in a commanding 4-0 win over Udinese U20 on Saturday. “It feels amazing. It feels great,” he told BolaNews.
Liteta on adapting in Italy
The youngster made 32 appearances across all competitions, scoring once and providing an assist. He was a consistent starter for the Rossoblu, bringing energy and control in the middle of the park.
When asked to rate his debut campaign out of 10, Liteta responded, “I would give it a solid 8, considering it was the first one and we managed to pick up a trophy. I think it was a great season.”
Liteta also opened up about his adaptation period in Italian football and how that experience has shaped his mindset going into the next campaign.
“I think I took some time to adapt. It was mid season that I feel I adapted. This season has given me a clear picture of what they expect and how to prepare myself for the new one. And hopefully it will be better.”
The prospect of Liteta breaking into Serie A remains a strong possibility following the confirmation of Cagliari Calcio’s top-flight status for next season.
He looks to become just the third Zambian, after Lameck Banda and Kingstone Mutandwa, to play in Italy’s top division.
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