Pirlo, is that you? A striking resemblance between a legendary player and AC Milan rising star Sandro Tonali

Andrea Pirlo was one of a kind. Creative, intuitive, a marvellous passer that could score from every possible spot. He is the one we should be grateful for widespread of the term 'regista', a director, deep-lying playmaker that garners all the virtues of both defensive and central midfielder in one person.

Pirlo in action in 2005 (©Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

He spent many years in AC Milan, becoming a true superstar and an icon in the city of fashion. Many years later, AC Milan nurture a guy that has shown some of Pirlo's style and ilk in his first games as a Rossoneri player.

Sandro Tonali is still a 21-year-old and has a lot in front of him, but the ease on the pitch, accurate passing and those beautiful free kicks prove he's yet to make his statement in Serie A.

Hm, there are some similarities there... Tonali (©Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Last night against Cagliari at San Siro, he scored his first goal for Milan, and it came from a free kick. But what strikes us the most is a shocking similarity between his and Pirlo's maiden goal for Italian giants.

They both scored from the literally same spot, a bit left near the edge of the box, leaving an opponent keeper no chance to save it. The only difference is that Pirlo nailed it against once-mighty Parma.

We'll definitely keep an eye on Tonali and, hopefully, see the birth and development of Italy's new gem.