Talent Identification Games at CAMPO North Hollywood by Roberto Calenda

A World-Class Soccer Recruiter Is Coming to Our North Hollywood Soccer Club

On November 6, the match field at CAMPO in North Hollywood hosts something most youth clubs never get to offer: Talent Identification Games with Roberto Calenda, a FIFA-licensed agent since 1997 who has shaped the careers of Victor Osimhen, Marquinhos, Carlos Tevez and Thiago Silva.

Juventus Academy Los Angeles announced the event this week, calling the partnership with Calenda "a major step toward creating REAL opportunities and professional pathways for our young talents." The games are exclusive to current academy players, and they take place right here at CAMPO, 6225 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood.

If you are a parent searching for a North Hollywood soccer club that takes the professional pathway seriously, this post explains who Roberto Calenda is, what a talent identification day actually involves, and how your player can get into the environment where days like this happen.

Who Is Roberto Calenda?

Roberto Calenda is not a typical guest coach. He is one of the most recognized player representatives in world football.

• FIFA-licensed agent since 1997, with nearly 30 years operating inside the international professional game.

• Victor Osimhen: Calenda guided the striker's move to SSC Napoli, which led to a historic Serie A title, the league's top scorer award, and the CAF African Player of the Year honor. He later negotiated a record contract renewal and supported Osimhen's move to Galatasaray.

• Marquinhos: Discovered by Calenda as a teenager at Corinthians in Brazil and brought to AS Roma. One season later,

  Calenda finalized his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, where he became captain and lifted the club's first Champions League.

• Thiago Silva: After difficult early years in Europe, Calenda steered him to AC Milan, the move that launched his career as one of the best defenders in the world.

• Carlos Tevez: Joined Juventus through Calenda's idea and structure, won the Serie A title and reached the 2015 Champions League final.

• His client list has also included Maicon, Juan Jesus, Keita Baldé and 39-time Italy international Federico Bernardeschi.

In August 2026, Juventus Academy Los Angeles formally welcomed Calenda as its International Football Advisor. In that role he shares his perspective with players, families and coaches on international pathways, long-term development, the expectations of professional environments, and the transition from youth soccer to higher levels of competition.

Soccer Recruiter, Scout or Agent? What Parents Should Know

Parents often use the term "soccer recruiter" to describe anyone who identifies young talent and opens doors. In practice there are a few different roles, and it helps to know the difference:

• A club scout watches matches to identify players for a specific team or academy.

• A college recruiter evaluates high school age players for university programs.

• A FIFA-licensed agent represents professional players, negotiates contracts and advises on career moves at the highest level of the sport.

Roberto Calenda sits in that third category, which is exactly why his visit matters. The people he works with every day are sporting directors, club executives and scouts at clubs in Serie A, the Premier League and Ligue 1. When someone with that network watches a youth match in North Hollywood, they see players through the lens of what professional football actually demands.

Just as important, Calenda's approach is player-first. Juventus Academy LA has been clear that the objective is not to rush young players toward professional football, but to create a more informed environment around their development. Decisions should be based on the individual player's ability, maturity, goals, and long-term growth.

What Are Talent Identification Games?

Talent identification (often shortened to "talent ID") is the structured process professional academies use to evaluate players in real game situations rather than isolated drills.

At the November 6 event at CAMPO, academy players will compete in organized matches while Roberto Calenda and the Juventus Academy LA technical staff observe. Here is what a professional eye is typically looking for on a day like this:

1. Technical quality under pressure: first touch, passing range, ability to receive and play forward when space is tight.

2. Game intelligence: positioning, scanning before receiving, decision speed, and understanding when to risk the ball and when to keep it.

3. Physical profile: speed, agility, endurance and how a player's athletic development projects over time.

4. Mentality: reaction to mistakes, communication, work rate without the ball, and coachability.

5. Readiness for the next step: not just talent, but whether a player's environment, maturity, and development curve make them a candidate for higher levels.

Juventus Academy LA already recommends top-performing players to Juventus FC in Italy for exposure opportunities, and eligible boys U13 to U19 can be selected for the MLS NEXT pathway through the LA Youth platform. Talent Identification Games add another layer of professional evaluation to that pathway.

Why CAMPO Is the Right Home for This

CAMPO is the official home match field for Juventus Academy Los Angeles and LA Youth (MLS NEXT Academy Division). Edge Americas Sports, the sports investment group co-founded by Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero and Matteo Masucci, developed the facility, which opened in September 2026 after an investment of more than $1 million to transform the athletic field at St. Patrick Church and School.

What players and families get at this North Hollywood soccer club:

• FIFA-quality, non-toxic fourth-generation synthetic turf built for 11v11, 9v9 and 7v7 matches

• A Performance LAB for athletic testing and development

• A dedicated spectator area designed for parents

• More than 500 home games expected each year

• Easy access near the 101 Freeway, with parking on Willowcrest Ave

Because the academy's competitive teams, MLS NEXT teams, and open programs all share one home, moments like a visit from Roberto Calenda happen on the same field where players train every week. That is a rare advantage for a youth program anywhere in Los Angeles, let alone one neighborhood in the Valley.

How Your Player Can Be Part of Days Like This

The November 6 Talent Identification Games are exclusive to Juventus Academy LA players. The way in is to join the academy, and there are two paths depending on your player's age and level:

Competitive Academy (tryout required)

Boys and girls U7 to U19 compete at the state level in the Coast Soccer League. Eligible older boys can be selected for the MLS NEXT pathway through LA Youth, and top performers may be recommended for exposure opportunities with Juventus FC in Italy. Request a tryout through the academy website, and you will be invited to the next available session at CAMPO NoHo.

Open programs at CAMPO (no tryout required)

Players can register directly for programs that train within the Juventus Academy methodology, including:

• Juventus Pre-Academy for boys and girls U3 to U7

• Juventus After-School Program for U8 to U12

• CAMPO Youth Leagues with recreational and competitive streams for U8 to U13

• Juventus Development Program for U8 to U12, a training-focused program designed to prepare players for competitive academy tryouts

Every player's journey is different. Some will stay local and love the game for life. Others will move through the Development Program, into the competitive academy, onto the MLS NEXT platform and toward college or professional opportunities. The point of a structured pathway is that the next step is always visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child attend the November 6 Talent Identification Games? The event is exclusive to current Juventus Academy Los Angeles players. Families interested in future opportunities should request a tryout or register for an open program at CAMPO.

Is Roberto Calenda a soccer recruiter for Juventus FC? He is a FIFA-licensed agent and serves as International Football Advisor to Juventus Academy Los Angeles. He is not a club scout, but his network spans professional clubs and executives across Europe's top leagues.

Where is the North Hollywood soccer club located? CAMPO is at 6225 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606, on the campus of St. Patrick Church and School.

What ages does the academy serve? Programs run from U3 Pre-Academy through U19 competitive teams.

How do I get started?Call (805) 410-3224, email info@mycampo.com, or visit the Programs page to register through PlayMetrics.

Big Dreams. Real Opportunities.

The Juventus Academy LA announcement ends with a simple line: "The future starts HERE." For families in North Hollywood and across the San Fernando Valley, that is not a slogan. It is a field on Cahuenga Blvd where a world-class agent will watch youth matches on November 6, and where your player can train next week.

Ready to join? Request a tryout or register for an open program at CAMPO, and give your player a home where the professional pathway is real.

Sources

• Juventus Academy LA and CAMPO NoHo Instagram announcement: https://www.instagram.com/p/DfH3btfBltY/

• Juventus Academy Los Angeles Welcomes Roberto Calenda as International Football Advisor: https://www.juveacademyla.com/post/juventus-academy-los-angeles-welcomes-roberto-calenda-as-international-football-advisor

• Roberto Calenda official site (career and client history): https://www.robertocalenda.com/roberto-calenda-english/

• Football Italia, Calenda adds Bernardeschi to client list: https://football-italia.net/calenda-signs-ex-italy-juventus-bernardeschi/

• CAMPO North Hollywood facility page, Juventus Academy LA: https://www.juveacademyla.com/campo

• CAMPO Programs: https://www.mycampo.com/programs

• CAMPO Locations: https://www.mycampo.com/locations

• Juventus Academy LA Tryouts: https://www.juveacademyla.com/tryouts

• EssentiallySports, Athlete By Design partners with CAMPO (facility development, Del Piero and Masucci): https://www.essentiallysports.com/es-news-athlete-by-design-partners-with-campo-new-elite-performance-facility-now-open-in-north-hollywood-ca/