Sevilla summer signing Luca Cigarini has been hailed as the future of Italian football.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli sees Cigarini as a replacement for AC Milan veteran Andrea Pirlo.

"During my time at Parma, Luca was in the Primavera and they called him the Professor," said Prandelli.

"He has grown up a lot in Spain. Luca is the hear to Pirlo."