BY MARK KITCHIN • DAILY RECORD STAFF WRITER

MADISON — Vincenzo Bernardo might very well be a coach some day, but the most talented European soccer hopeful ever to grow up in Madison doesn't want to stop playing long enough to consider it.

Vincenzo Bernardo / Photo by Jim Wright

A member of the Under-20 U.S. National Team pool, and the Napoli SSC (Italy) reserve team, Bernardo is one of a few Americans working through the youth ranks of European soccer with every intention of playing on one of world's elite professional squads.

The 19-year-old forward returned this July to initiate the inaugural Vincenzo Bernardo soccer camp at Madison High School.

"I come home every summer," Bernardo said. "I'm doing this camp here because it's my hometown. It's good to give back to my town."

There are dual purposes to the camp. Bernardo is familiar with what some U.S. camps teach and wants to give area soccer players the benefit of European style training.

Consequently, some of Bernardo's coaches are also talent scouts who are looking to reach out to young athletes to develop as players in Italy. Among the coaches is Bernardo's agent Pasquale De Rosa, goalie coach Pietro DeLuca and athletic trainer Antonio Balsamo, who work for Napoli but also double as scouts for Roma, Lazio, Juventus and other Italian professional teams.

"We are going to spread this round in the New York-New Jersey area in the near future,'' Bernardo said. "Basically they are looking for the next Giuseppe Rossi (Teaneck native playing for Spain's Villareal) or the next Vincenzo Bernardo."

The U.S. team's second-place showing in this month's Confederations Cup made it clear that future American teams are closing in on traditional soccer powers.

"We lack in the technical attributes compared to other countries," Bernardo said. "In time, that will develop."

Some of the Americans helping him in the camp, like Tim Wrynn, a Chatham High grad who plays at Moravian, and Caroline Corasaniti, another former Cougars soccer player who competes at the University of Scranton, can see the differences in the Italian style training.

"You get a good perspective on how they've learned and you can tell that they focus a lot more on personal and tactical things," Corasaniti said. "They take the kids aside and demonstrate with them and make sure they do it right. Like trying to play tight corners and playing change of direction. It's things they should know right from the get go."

Wrynn was struck by the way camp was run.

"There are no kids standing in lines," Wrynn said. "He has a lot of drills that keep all the kids involved. Everything has a purpose."

Bernardo and his family traveled to Italy looking for an opportunity to immerse himself in soccer on the professional level. He used his dual citizenship status and his soccer ability to find a place to play overseas.

Napoli SSC (Societa Sportivo Calcio) is among the most successful and famous teams in Southern Italy. It is the club in which Argentinian Diego Maradona gained much of his acclaim.

A quick, agile 5-foot-6 forward, Bernardo is a member of the Under-20 U.S. National team pool, which is preparing for the its World Cup this fall. He competed with the coaches in tournaments in Ireland, Spain and Florida in 2008 but has played in 2009.

"Right now Napoli is buying top players to build a team for Champions League next year," Bernardo said. "I'm 19 and kind of young for that level yet, but they told me I'm in their future plans. They want me to go on loan. They can send me anywhere in Europe, especially in Italy. They loan you out and you play games. Than you come back in a year or two and show them what you've got.

"I've always wanted soccer to grow in America," Bernardo said. "That's why I chose America over Italy in playing for a national team. I'd love to represent America. Growing up and being born here. It is important to play for my country."

Mark Kitchin: 973-428-6677; mkitchin@gannett.com