Foreword:
Before getting into my rankings, I would like to say a couple of things about how I assess players, to clear things up. First of all, I usually like to say that I’m not always right, but I always try to be intellectually honest. Of course, I am a fan of one team, and I am not so much a fan of other teams, as well as some of their players, for whatever reason that may be. However, in this article we’re discussing football, and there isn’t much more to it. Certain rankings may imply that there is bias, but that certainly isn’t the case, and I’m not saying this to defend myself in advance, but rather to segue to how I assess players.
Naturally I will not be able to explain everything regarding how I assess players in this article, but I think the main two points are that I’m not obsessed with form and try to apply context to how players are performing, and that I’m tactically biased. The first point is more important in general, and with it I want to emphasize ability over output. Players’ performances can, and will fluctuate for many different reasons. A player can have done next to nothing this season, but if I’ve seen them display their skillset under different circumstances before, then I’m probably prepared to disregard the player’s poor form. I don’t see a regression of output as a necessary indication of regression of ability, and I think it’s important for everyone to acknowledge that a player’s performances are highly dependant on many factors that are out of their control. If you’ve proven that you can play not too long ago, chances are you can still play today, even if your performances say otherwise. In some cases, a player may even be yet to ever perform at the level they could for tactical reasons, in which case I try to imagine how that player could perform under different circumstances, as opposed to how they’ve played in the past. Context behind output, in particular, is always important.
On the second point, well, different players thrive in different formations, roles and setups, which becomes problematic if you consider that every player can thrive in a specific role. Do I rank players based on how effective I think they are in their ideal role? No, because I think some roles are more important and probably influential to success than others. It will almost be impossible not to say it out loud, so I will: a lot of Inter players will probably be ranked lower than expected. I recognize that this is problematic since Inter are — at least in my opinion — quite easily the best team in Serie A. However, I am not critical of Inter’s tactics, but rather believe that it hides the flaws of some of their players, and if those players were to play in a different top (!) side, these flaws would be apparent. To speak in incredibly basic, direct terms, the best teams in club football generally have two things in common: they set up with a 4–3–3, and they tend to keep a lot of the ball. Of course, football is not as simple as possession and a 4–3–3 formation being the keys to success, and I’m not trying to argue that at all. Instead, I think every player in today’s game should be able to play in a 4–3–3, and I think possession-based qualities are incredibly important. This is another generalization, but there are quite a few positions in a three-back system that are easier to play in compared to similar positions. For example, it’s usually easier to play as a wing-back than it is to play as a full-back; it’s easier to play as a wide center-back than in a two center-back partnership; it’s easier to play in a two striker partnership than as a lone striker. So, again, you may think my opinions on a some of Inter’s players aren’t as positive as expected, and this doesn’t have as much to do with Inter as a collective, as it does with my opinion that some of their players benefit individually from playing in a very specific role. Of course, this outlook is also consistent for other teams, Inter is just the most notable example, as they are the best team in the country. Overall, the simplest explanation I can give of how I at least attempt to assess players, is that I try to take them out of the context of their team, and assess what they’re truly capable of. And then, of course, not all attributes are worth the same, and in that aspect I’m naturally biased, which is worth clarifying.
Finally, if you haven’t already ranked 100 different things, you may not realize how difficult it is. You may ask me who I prefer between player A and player B immediately after this article has been published, and I might tell you I prefer player B, even though player A ranked higher in this ranking, although hopefully not by much. That is to say: don’t nitpick, show some respect for the difficulty of making a list like this, and know that this is just my honest opinion. I may not be right, but I am honest.
With all of that being said, buon natale & viva il calcio italiano!
Honorable mention: Yann-Aurel Bisseck (Inter)
Yann-Aurel Bisseck has been excellent in his first two starts for Inter, but I don’t think that’s big enough of a sample size for me to assess him in a way that is nuanced.
100. Dušan Vlahović (Juventus)
Dušan Vlahović is a player who I’ve gone back and forth on in recent years. When he first broke out at Fiorentina in 2020–21, I became a big fan of him, but by the end of 2021 he’d grown off me significantly, and I wasn’t a fan of Juventus’ decision to sign him. Even then, as Vlahović’s struggles increased at Juventus, I began to see the upside, but at this point I have essentially given up on him as a prospect. I view him as a decent striker, and not much more unfortunately.
Ironically enough, the biggest red flag regarding Vlahović is what he does in the box, and this is the most important aspect to inspect when assessing Vlahović, as he is a complicated player. One thing he’s always frankly been quite bad at, is shot selection. He has never been a player who’s accumulated a high xG with his movement, yet he’s always been a player who takes quite a lot of shots, and that’s really not a good trait for a striker. This is especially the case as Vlahović has proven to be an incredibly inconsistent finisher. At Fiorentina, his end product was inflated by the fact that he took penalties, and that he was overperforming his npxG, but over the last year he’s underperforming his npxG by roughly 15%. Considering Vlahović has frequently been criticized for his poor technique and lack of contribution in buildup, this is definitely concerning. With all of this being taken into account in and of itself, Vlahović definitely doesn’t seem like a good player, but I do think he is also just a bad fit for Juventus.
When it comes to his technique, I actually think Vlahović is rather underrated, and his output at Juve may not show that, especially as Arkadiusz Milik and Moise Kean are superior to him in that regard, but I think that’s a matter of tactical fit. Vlahović is big and physically strong, which gives him potential in buildup in and of itself, but even when it comes to his passing he has shown a lot of potential, the problem is that he’s not catered to Juve’s style of play. On top of this, when it comes to his contribution in the box, I do think his shot selection is the biggest concern, as opposed to his poor finishing over the last year. In a different team, I think we could see Vlahović as a fairly productive and technically effective striker.
99. Noah Okafor (Milan)
Noah Okafor was one of Milan’s recent summer signings that I was very critical of, but that is not necessarily down to his lack of ability. Even in this department, I remain reserved about Okafor in relativity to the top five leagues, but although he’s not extremely young I can see him growing with more experience. At Red Bull Salzburg he became increasingly inconsistent towards the end of his stint, but overall he proved himself as a complete forward who was way too good for the Austrian Bundesliga. So far, Okafor hasn’t taken on a significant role at Milan, and it’s even more difficult for him to stand out due to Milan’s struggles this season, but in the limited playing time he has received, he’s shown some promising flashes.
At Salzburg, Okafor technically played as one of the two strikers in a diamond formation, but practically he operated as more of a left-sided inside forward, which I think reflects his ideal role. Okafor is a very peculiar player, because at 85 kg and 185 cm, he is hardly too small to be a striker, but his skillset is more suited to wider areas due to his agility and technique. When it comes to 1v1 situations, hold-up play, and movement off the ball, Okafor has the potential to be a very unique, dynamic inside forward, somewhat reminiscent of Ante Rebić when he was at his best. He has previously shown to be smart off the ball, dangerous in the box in many different ways, and he has a nice technical base. On the other hand he’s too raw in any of these areas at the highest level to be a standout player at the moment. Nonetheless, aside from his dominance in Austria, Okafor’s cameos with Milan and his performances in the Champions League with Salzburg, I think it’s clear that he’s at least a good forward. Okafor’s unimpressive output over a small sample size with Milan may say otherwise so far, but aside from still being raw in relativity to the top leagues, he also isn’t a situation in which you can expect him to thrive for the time being. For now, the eye test is a lot more telling, especially when you also consider what he has displayed in the past.
98. Nicolás González (Fiorentina)
I’m still somewhat baffled by Fiorentina’s refusal to sell Nicolás González last summer, because by no means is he an exceptional player. Is he a good Serie A forward though? I would say so, even though I’m not a big personal fan of him. For instance, one of the things that annoy me about González is that his occasional technical brilliance out wide is a distraction from the fact that he’s actually quite a one-dimensional player in the final third. He is a good ball-carrier and dribbler, but even inconsistent in that regard, and more importantly you wonder how much this is worth, because González is a highly uncreative player in the final third. He seems to have a somewhat contradicting style of play, but what you cannot take away from him is his movement off the ball, which is exceptional for a winger, as is his aerial ability. González’s final third output since joining Fiorentina has not been spectacular in and of itself, but when you consider who he’s been playing with, I think it’s quite impressive, and overall he is definitely a dangerous inside forward.
97. Renato Sanches (Roma)
It’s hard to describe Renato Sanches as a player, because generally I don’t like to hold a player’s availability against them, but when it comes to Renato Sanches this is impossible to overlook. For most of his career, Renato has been unavailable more often than not, which is just an obvious problem that limits how impactful he can be in any given team.
Then, as far as his ability goes, it’s worth noting that Sanches never reached his potential, but even then he’s a highly talented player. With the ball at his feet, he can do just about everything, and he’s both extremely progressive and efficient. Defensively, you would wish Sanches was better given his physical profile, but he is at least capable of contributing off the ball, while also being effective in the final third. In terms of pure ability, Renato ranks a lot higher on this list, but with his severe injury issues an exception has to be made.
96. Samuel Iling-Junior
Despite Massimiliano Allegri having become infamous for wasting offensive players in more defensive roles, of which many have claimed Samuel Iling-Junior to be such a player, I think Iling-Junior is quite suited to a left-back, or left wing-back role.
For a player who looks like a winger in many ways, Iling-Junior is actually a surprisingly good defender, standing out for his ball-winning, which is partly attributed to a good physical profile, but also fundamental solidity. Where he is less proven, on the other hand, is when it comes to box defending and 1v1 defending, and from what I’ve seen these are clear weaknesses. Iling-Junior is clearly an offensive-minded full-back, who currently stands out for his electric dribbling and ball-carrying more than anything else at the moment. He has also shown to be dangerous in the final third, but can certainly improve in this regard. More importantly, though, Iling-Junior has played as a wing-back for Juventus, and as a full-back he would need to work on his defending and deeper buildup play, in order to reach his potential, which remains quite high. One of many exciting prospects to come out of Juve’s youth sector in recent years.
95. Nikola Moro (Bologna)
Bologna’s Nikola Moro has not yet grown into a key player for the club yet, but I do think he’s one of their most talented players based on what he’s displayed when he’s been on the pitch. Perhaps the choice is tactical, because admittedly Nikola Moro’s ideal role is difficult to pinpoint. Part of the reason why is that Moro can be described as a jack of all trades, but a master of none. He puts in work off the ball, he’s a highly progressive, although slightly inefficient player in buildup, and he’s also shown prowess in the final third, although he has been particularly inconsistent in this department. Bologna have made some questionable signings since Giovanni Sartori took over as technical director, but his track record speaks for itself, and despite the limited sample size of performances and unimpressive CV, I think Sartori might have found a very nice player in Moro. Certainly one of the most underrated midfielders in the league.
94. Sandi Lovrić (Udinese)
Sandi Lovrić is certainly not my favorite type of player, from a personal perspective, but he is undoubtedly also effective, and one of Udinese’s best.
Specifically, what I don’t like about Lovrić is that he’s a midfielder who is underwhelming in buildup, and not very good defensively. He is a good ball-carrier and an efficient ball-winner, but aside from that he really doesn’t stand out. What he does excel at, however, is final third contribution, and especially when you consider that he plays for Udinese, he is very impressive in this regard. He does not only stand out in his movement off the ball, but also his creativity.
93. Davide Frattesi (Inter)
I usually don’t like to judge players off of a lack of playing time, but in Davide Frattesi’s case I think his lack of involvement at Inter so far this season is perhaps not indicative of his flaws, but reaffirms the doubts I previously had about his abilities.
At Sassuolo, Frattesi stood out as a big box threat, with upside in buildup, and some defensive potential, but an overall lack of contribution in the latter two aspects. I anticipated that he could perhaps offer more in possession at Inter, but when he’s played he hasn’t really shown that, and I also believe he would have played significantly more if that were the case. Similarly to Lovrić, Frattesi doesn’t stand out for much more than his final third contribution, which may seem more significant than it is just because he’s a midfielder, but when you consider what he doesn’t do, that other midfielders do, you start to see the problem. Nonetheless, Frattesi’s ability to crash the box and carry the ball does land him a place on this list; he is a good player.
92. Bryan Cristante (Roma)
In recent years Bryan Cristante has primarily been used as a holding midfielder, and occasionally even as a center-back, but this season he’s showed that he might be more effective as a number 8.
Cristante has been surprisingly effective as a mezzala for Roma, with his positional awareness and size making him a box threat, and his ball-striking making him a decent progressor and creator on top of that. Unfortunately he has been disappointing in the defensive phase, considering he was as a strong destroyer in recent years, but he’s been effective nonetheless. Cristante is another example of a player who I don’t love to watch, but whose skillset inevitably makes him an effective midfielder, although he’s not extraordinary.
91. Johan Vásquez (Genoa)
In a Genoa team that looks set to stay in Serie A for years to come, Johan Vásquez is perhaps not the player who gets the most plaudits, but I do think he’s one of their best players nonetheless.
Vásquez has been playing in Italy since 2021, and showed some promising tendencies in his first season with Genoa, despite their relegation. Following Genoa’s relegation, he moved to newly promoted Cremonese, in a loan move which wasn’t all too successful as Cremonese were also relegated. Still, Vásquez was one of a few redeeming players in that Cremonese team, and in his return to Genoa this season he has established himself as a key player.
In a Genoa team that keeps very little of the ball, Vásquez is one of few players who stand out possession, primarily through his ball-carrying and dribbling. As for his passing he still has a lot to work on, and that along with his aerial ability are his biggest flaws. Aside from that Vásquez is a very solid, front-footed defender, who’s played a key role in Genoa’s impressive defensive record so far this season.
90. Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)
Adrien Rabiot has had quite a wild career development, having gone from a highly touted regista prospect, to a player whose technical ability has been criticized in recent years, and whose box-crashing has been more prominent. So far he is perhaps having his best season since leaving PSG, but I still have some issues with his game.
What Rabiot has improved in so far this season, is his contribution to Juve’s quick, direct buildup, which has been excellent, as well his defensive contribution, which has also been excellent. Rabiot is not a player who you want to give the ball to too often, but when Juve transition he’s proven to be a fantastic outlet, who is generally technically secure, and also proficient in progressing play through ball-carrying and dribbling. It should be emphasized that this is mostly something that is noticed in transition, and otherwise Rabiot’s contribution in buildup is still highly limited, as much as that doesn’t bother Juve.
Furthermore, Rabiot’s increased defensive prowess has been a key reason behind Juve’s success so far this season, and an increase in effort and discipline from all of Juve’s players is one of the main reasons why they suddenly have one of the best defensive records in Europe. At the same time, given what Rabiot has displayed earlier in his career, I’m taking Rabiot’s defensive improvement with a grain of salt, because he is 28 years old after all. This is partly since Rabiot has struggled with positional awareness and tracking back in the past, and this issue has likely been minimized at Juve since they set up in a deeper block out of possession, and Rabiot also has plenty of defensive support from his teammates.
As for Rabiot’s final third contribution, he has little to prove, but as a midfielder I still have reservations about Rabiot when it comes to his defensive contribution and technical ability.
89. Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli)
Jacopo Fazzini is one of my favorite prospects in Serie A, and since last season I’ve been really impressed with his maturity, as he is already a good Serie A player at the age of 20.
For his age, Fazzini is really impressive in his defensive contribution. Naturally he loses a lot of duels since his involvement is extremely high, but he wins them at an impressive efficiency and his physical tools and defensive fundamentals look solid. Moreover, while his possession-based output isn’t exceptional, and it is true that he’s still raw, if you watch him play you should see that Fazzini has a lot of extremely interesting tendencies that bode well for his future development. He’s intelligent, has a soft touch, possesses good close control, and is often comfortable receiving the ball. He needs to be more technically consistent and improve his passing for the time being, but his technical ability should not be underestimated in any context. Aside from that, Fazzini has also looked really promising in the final third, both as a creator and as a box threat.
Right now, Fazzini could be a more efficient defender, more technically consistent, and there’s a lot he would need to learn if he were to play in a top team, but I really, really believe in his upside. While his output suggests he is similar to the likes of Rabiot, Cristante, Frattesi, and Lovrić, I think Fazzini can be a much more complete player in the future. One of my favorite number 8 prospects in the world.
88. Moise Kean (Juventus)
I still can’t say it with my chest, but despite his zero goal contributions this season, I think Moise Kean is a good player. Ultimately his development has been mishandled and he hasn’t reached his potential… but is he good? I would say so.
Let’s get the main issues out of the way first. Since rejoining Juventus, Arkadiusz Milik and Dušan Vlahović have been favored over Moise Kean by Massimiliano Allegri, and this is one of two reasons why Kean’s numbers have been unimpressive in this period. Another reason why is that Kean’s finishing has been poor, which may be a result of multiple factors, of which not all are related to ability. I do think Moise Kean is impressive off the ball and has an intriguing technical base, but ultimately the problem is that my appreciation for him largely comes down to what he could be. With his physical profile, technical base, and movement off the ball, he could be a complete striker who can be effective in buildup, create from out wide, and be a goal threat in the box. However he’s just not in the right environment to develop these traits right now, which makes a pretty significant difference. Juventus are not possession-based enough for him to develop technically, and they don’t create enough chances for him to develop as a goal threat.
I still feel Moise Kean could be a very good striker in a different environment, but that is only after he is given time to develop. For now, I would only say that he would be a good striker in a different environment, but that comes down to ability, which is what this ranking is based on.
87. Michael Kayode (Fiorentina)
In his first senior season, Michael Kayode has been highly impressive with Fiorentina, and the future looks extremely bright. Even at the age of 19 and with limited experience, Kayode already looks like one of the best full-backs in Serie A.
There is one clear area where Kayode excels, and that’s on the defensive end, which is despite him not being the most physically imposing player. The stats alone will tell you this: Kayode doesn’t just rank in the 89th percentile for tackles per 90, but in the 99th percentile for % of dribblers tackled, which is indicative of his great ball-winning and phenomenal 1v1 defending (via FBref). Even aside from that, Kayode’s box defending is very good, and his biggest flaw is his lackluster aerial ability, which is not an essential trait for a full-back anyway.
In terms of Kayode’s technical ability and offensive contribution, he still leaves quite a bit to desire, but he’s shown very promising tendencies which bode well for his future development, and he’s by no means a liability, but rather just temporarily unimpressive. This is ultimately what makes Kayode rank lower on this list.
86. Mateo Retegui (Genoa)
Since choosing to represent the Italian national team instead of the Argentinian national team, Mateo Retegui has become a much more popular player, and he would subsequently earn a move to Italy. However, despite links to the top clubs in the country at first, Retegui would sign for Genoa. While his output may say otherwise, Retegui has had a decent start to his Serie A career.
The reason for Retegui’s poor output is clear: he plays in the most defensive team in the league; a team that doesn’t keep much of the ball, and a team that doesn’t create many chances. Under these conditions it’s hard to thrive, and you have to watch Retegui play to see what he has to offer. It is a matter of flashes, of which Retegui has shown plenty. Not only is he a natural finisher in various types of scenarios, but he has also shown tendencies of good link-up play and an ability to create from wide areas. On the other hand, Retegui’s poor output is not solely a matter of the team he plays in, and he does need to be more consistent in every facet of the game, which could come with experience. Still, Retegui’s success in Argentina makes me confident that Retegui’s poor output is less reflective of his true ability than the flashes he’s shown.
85. Leandro Paredes (Roma)
Leandro Paredes is one of the hardest players for me to assess for this ranking, because I’m not a personal fan of him as a player, I’ve never rated him extremely high, but he does have talent that cannot be ignored in my eyes. Specifically, it’s not much more complicated than Paredes being able to pass the ball, and win the ball. Defensively he has his issues, such as positioning and 1v1 defending. In buildup he is fairly one-dimensional due to his lack of ball-carrying and dribbling. Ultimately this leaves you with a player who can be very effective, particularly depending on the opposition, but his game simply isn’t complete enough for him to be more than a good midfielder, which has always been the case.
84. Matteo Pessina (Monza)
Since his return to his boyhood club, Matteo Pessina has become a key player for Monza, and is now their captain. Although he was previously labeled an attacking midfielder, he has shown prowess in a deeper role at Monza. In this new role, Pessina has occasionally been able to contribute in the final third, but primarily he’s a technically secure and progressive player in buildup. Defensively Pessina has been inconsistent, but he isn’t much worse than average in this department. Not only is Pessina a leader at Monza, but also a midfield metronome.
83. Pablo Marí (Monza)
Pablo Marí was largely mediocre at Arsenal, but at Monza he has turned into a respectable defender. Reasonably there are still some concerns about his defending, but overall it is not a weakness of his, but rather not a significant strength. More importantly, Marí is an extremely efficient passer, and the most technically secure player in a Monza team that plays some of the nicest football in Italy. Marí has truly found himself a home in Monza, and it’s nice to see given he’s 30 years old. Hopefully he has a lot more to give for years to come.
82. Armando Izzo (Monza)
Similarly to Matteo Pessina, Armando Izzo is a leader figure at Monza, who mainly stands out for his complete contribution in possession. Izzo has struggled with injuries this season, but last season he arguably had the best season of his career, even at the age of 31/32. In contrast to Pablo Marí, he was a much more progressive, yet still efficient player in buildup, who played an essential role in that department. Not only a great technician, Izzo also proved himself to be a great ball-winner, through physique, defensive fundamentals and intelligence. This was enough for him to be defensively effective for Monza, but on the other hand it’s worth pointing out that his 1v1 defending and box defending leaves a bit to desire, which is not as noticeable when he’s used as a wide center-back in a 3–4–3.
81. Alessandro Buongiorno
I may not be completely sold on Alessandro Buongiorno, but a player of his defensive competence is difficult to look past in Italy. It may have taken them a while, but Buongiorno is about as close to a Bremer replacement as Torino could have found.
Buongiorno is a simple, yet effective player. Defensively he is one of the most fundamentally solid players in Italy, with a great combination of size, athleticism, defensive fundamentals, positional awareness, and anticipation. With that being said, he is not perfect, and due to a lack of agility he is somewhat vulnerable in 1v1 situations. This, along with a lack of natural technical ability, also makes Buongiorno quite limited in possession, although he’s not bad, just lackluster. The hyperbolic, stripped back description of Buongiorno is that he can defend, but he cannot pass. Such a player can still be effective in today’s game, and Buongiorno is, but he’s not an extraordinary defender.
80. Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna)
Right now Zirkzee is regarded as one of Serie A’s very best prospects, and I have been intrigued by him since his move to Bologna, but I’m not as high on his abilities as most for the time being. One thing has always stood out about Zirkzee; his technique, which isn’t just incredible considering his height of 1.93 m, but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to claim that Zirkzee is one of the most technical strikers on the planet, just in general. Zirkzee is extremely mobile, agile, and technically proficient, which means he plays a key role in buildup — something which strikers are not traditionally known for, but a quality which is highly valuable nonetheless.
The glaring problem with Zirkzee, on the other hand, is his lack of contribution in the final third. Eight non-penalty goal contributions in 14.7 90s so far in Serie A this season is not bad in and of itself, but his goal-scoring form should by no means be sustainable, which is not to mention that his end product is not much more than decent. If you watch Zirkzee play, his lack of box threat does stand out, which is also reflected statistically, as he ranks in the 15th percentile for npxG per 90 over the last year (via FBref). Furthermore, if you look at Zirkzee’s goals this season, a lot of them are quite circumstantial, and aren’t the result of good movement. On the other hand, while Zirkzee had previously gained a reputation for being an unreliable finisher, his overperformance of his xG might very well be sustainable. He strikes the ball very cleanly nowadays, and looks like a natural finisher in more advanced positions. Regarding finishing, it’s important to not just inspect a player’s ability to overperform their xG, but how they handle difficult chances, and more easy chances respectively. Zirkzee is quite proven when it comes to the former, but has not displayed much when it comes to the latter, although he has shown proficiency in cooly and confidently rounding the goalkeeper, when through on goal, which is encouraging.
Overall, Zirkzee is an interesting player, but his lack of box threat is a blatant red flag in my eyes, which is not merely a matter of what the stats imply, but even the eye test. Even when you consider Zirkzee’s creativity, and the possibility that he could continue to overperform his xG in the long-term, he’s clearly an underwhelming final third threat for the time being. To his defense, he doesn’t have the most creative players around him, and could be more of a final third threat in a more talented team, but for now I still think he’s a good, but highly limited striker.
79. Anthony Oyono (Frosinone)
Frosinone have, at least to me, been the big surprise team of this season so far. Their squad looked extremely weak going into the season, and while plenty of late loan moves were encouraging, it was hard to foresee how well Frosinone would subsequently play as a collective, and how strong the individual performances would be. Oyono is one player who was already at Frosinone last season, and since he’s there on a permanent basis he may very well be their most valuable asset.
Similarly to Michael Kayode, Anthony Ayono primarily excels in the defensive phase, with solid ball-winning, excellent aerial defending, reliable box defending, and exceptional 1v1 defending. As an offensive option he still leaves a lot to be desired, which is ultimately his biggest flaw, but aside from his defending he is also quite a technically reliable and progressive player in buildup.
78. Patrick Dorgu (Lecce)
While Lecce do have a surprisingly strong youth sector, having even won the Campionato Primavera, it was hard to anticipate that Patrick Dorgu would be their best player in the first senior season of his career. Like Michael Kayode and Anthony Oyono, Dorgu is a young full-back who stands out for his defensive solidity above all, and between the three aforementioned full-backs he is the most defensively solid one. In an uninspiring Lecce team, Dorgu has been an absolute rock defensively.
Meanwhile, when you set Dorgu’s defending aside, he’s also shockingly good on the ball for someone so young and inexperienced. Although his encouraging technique and offensive involvement mainly bodes well for his future through tendencies, as opposed to consistent output, it does say something about his current ability as well. Just a year from now, we may be talking about Dorgu as one of the very best full-backs in the league. For me it’s only a matter of time, that is unless a big club from another league signs him first.
77. Albert Guðmundsson (Genoa)
Despite Genoa having been a dull and defensive team so far this season, they have easily been one of my favorite teams to watch. One reason why is the magical atmosphere of the Luigi Ferraris, which has been as good as I can ever recall it being. Another reason has been Albert Guðmundsson, who is admittedly a flawed player, but definitely good, and more importantly he is lovely to watch.
The issue with Guðmundsson is largely tactical; what is his best role? He has played as quite a unique deep-lying forward for Genoa, who has practically roamed freely all over the pitch. This is one of the reasons for his lack of final third threat, although his excellent ball-striking has somehow led to him scoring six goal in the league so far. Nonetheless, most importantly Guðmundsson is an extremely technical, agile and progressive player on the ball. Despite his lack of reputation and unimpressive CV, Guðmundsson might legitimately be one of the most fun players to watch in the top five leagues, which is a message directed towards the “football is dead”-crowd. Then again, as much as he’s fun to watch, how effective is he? Well, he is probably Genoa’s most valuable player in buildup, so the problem is not exactly what he’s contributed this season, but the wider applicability of his role. In a different team, I think Guðmundsson would have to be used as a winger, and despite his natural talent boding well for how he’d be able to contribute in buildup, and that there are even signs that he’d be a positive player going forward, he is most effective in central areas, and in a freer, and more fluid role. Despite this, I absolutely think Guðmundsson is good enough to at least be a rotational winger for the best teams in this league, and for some of the weaker teams he would be easily be a starter.
76. Jesper Lindstrøm (Napoli)
Jesper Lindstrøm has been such an inconsequential signing for Napoli that he’s largely escaped criticism so far this season, at leat as far as I’m aware. This is not to imply that he deserves more criticism, but rather to acknowledge that the Italian media and public is usually much harsher when it comes to signings that aren’t immediately successful. Thus it’s refreshing to see that Lindstrøm has been given time, although it may comically enough be due to him having simply been forgotten about, as implied earlier. Sure enough, from my perspective, I don’t have significant doubts about Lindstrøm’s ability. Sure, he’s not an entirely developed player, which is why he still ranks on the lower end of this list, but if you’ve seen him at Eintracht Frankfurt you know he can play.
2021–22 was the last season in which Lindstrøm was used in his preferred role — as a number 10 — in a well-performing team, and in that season his output and overall performances were highly encouraging. He was a fantastic ball-carrier and a good 1v1 threat, he was a smart and hard-working player off the ball, and he was both a creator and a goal threat in the final third. Ultimately, Lindstrøm’s inconsistency since then is discouraging, and it does seem like he’s quite reliant on playing in a role that is increasingly rare in football these days, which is what ranks him on the lower end of this list. By the end of next season — assuming Napoli appoint a new manager and continue to set up with a 4–3–3 next season — Lindstrøm should preferably be a natural fit, either as an interior midfielder, or as a creative winger. For now, he is unproven in that regard, and while I’m aware of his talent, that is an issue for me.
75. Pierre Kalulu (Milan)
Pierre Kalulu is one of the hardest players on this list for me to write about, because I’ve previously been such a big fan of him, but I now realize that he likely won’t ever reach his potential. In the 2021–22 season, Kalulu was nothing short of spectacular, and was arguably the x-factor behind Milan’s scudetto win, but since then Kalulu has struggled immensely with both form and injuries. His exceptional 2021–22 season did always raise doubts, as Kalulu excelled as a center-back despite his height of just 1.82 m. Kalulu has always been more of a center-back/full-back hybrid, who I’ve seen as more of a full-back in the long-term, but due to a lack of playing time out wide at the senior level, he has failed to develop as a full-back. Still, Kalulu’s raw talent is clear: his lack of height, positional awareness and box defending makes him an unideal center-back, but his ball-winning and 1v1 defending can both be phenomenal, and he has plenty of untapped potential in both buildup and the final third. What this leaves you with, is a player who should be a good center-back in a more tactically stable team in the short-term, and who can still perhaps become a very good full-back in the long-term, but will we ever see that? At least at Milan I don’t think so, unfortunately.
74. Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna)
Riccardo Calafiori is similar to Pierre Kalulu in the sense that he’s a full-back/center-back hybrid with some defensive issues, but I think the important distinction between them right now is that Calafiori is more tactically developed.
Calafiori and Kalulu are similarly very promising, yet flawed, on the defensive end. As for Calafiori, his positional awareness is good, his anticipation is excellent, and given his height of 1.88 m it is perhaps not too surprising that he is excellent in the air, despite his experience as a full-back. On the other hand, he really struggles with tackling and 1v1 defending, which makes him defensively unreliable for the time being. Still, Calafiori’s development is clearly heading in the right development, and Thiago Motta is doing an excellent job with him. At the mere age of 21, Calafiori is already a very secure passer, with encouraging progressive tendencies. He is ultimately the third center-back option for Bologna, but considering his age and competition, this is not to his discredit. It may only be a matter of time until he’s one of the best defenders in Serie A, which is quite shocking considering how his development was looking prior to his move to Bologna.
73. Radu Drăgușin (Genoa)
For the time being, Drăgușin is quite a simple player. Similarly to Alessandro Buongiorno, he isn’t very technical, but he can definitely defend. Sure enough, what makes Drăgușin a better player, is the fact that I simply think he’s better defensively. He is a proactive player who can consistently be relied upon to win the ball when necessary, and who is positionally aware, fundamentally solid, and reliable in the air. Then, in contrast to that, he is still quite unimpressive on the ball, although not outright bad. As for the long-term this might be an issue that can be solved, as he is still just 21 years old, but for now I struggle to see any significant upside. Defensively, though, you won’t find many defenders who are as reliable as Radu Drăgușin in this league.
72. Francesco Acerbi (Inter)
In his final years at Lazio, it seemed like Acerbi was approaching retirement, but following one of the worst seasons in his career, Inter took a chance on him, which has definitely paid off. Acerbi has not been phenomenal for Inter, and has definitely benefitted from their system, but he is very clearly still a good defender. Technically he is reliable and progressive, and defensively he doesn’t excel at anything, but is simply quite good overall. As a cheap depth option for Inter, you couldn’t have asked for much more, and when you see Acerbi put in a great performance against Manchester City in the Champions League final, it’s hard to claim that he’s merely benefitting from a specific system.
71. Bremer (Juventus)
Should Bremer have been Serie A’s Defender of the Year in 2022, in retrospect? Probably not; since his subsequent move to Juventus, Bremer’s limits have become quite apparent, but defensively he is about as reliable of a player that you’ll find in this league. He is a pure, natural defender, who is fast, athletic, strong, fundamentally solid, and positionally aware. This makes him a bonafide key player in Allegri’s Juventus, however this is in a more limited role, and on the ball he remains quite unimpressive; relatively technically secure at best, which is a flaw that I cannot ignore in a defender nowadays.
70. Antoine Makoumbou (Cagliari)
Antoine Makoumbou is a player who mainly stands out for his profile and style of play. He is yet to get much wider recognition for his talent, but cagliaritani have certainly made no mistake about Makoumbou’s abilities, because it’s not every day that a player of his technical ability comes around for them.
What makes Makoumbou so special, is that he’s quite tall, at 1.87 m, yet extremely mobile and agile. I personally love midfielders who combine size with mobility, agility and technical class, and Makoumbou is exactly that kind of player. Even in a team that doesn’t keep a lot of the ball, Makoumbou’s technical talent stands out. He’s extremely press-resistant, and a metronome in midfield for Cagliari. Meanwhile, in terms of what he could improve, it is quite disappointing how mediocre Makoumbou is defensively, particularly given his size. In this regard, Makoumbou has shown positive signs but remains quite unimpactful, which is ultimately what limits him quite significantly. Otherwise, Makoumbou would be one of the best box-to-box midfielders Serie A has to offer.
69. Andrea Colpani (Monza)
This season has been a breakout season for Monza’s Andrea Colpani, who has turned into one of their best players. In a team that has struggled somewhat with chance creation, Colpani’s final third proficiency has been highly impressive, and this combined with good buildup contribution has made Colpani a very dynamic and exciting player. He can still be more efficient in buildup and better defensively, but he’s on the right path, and could be set for a move to a stronger team in the near future.
68. Houssem Aouar (Roma)
We haven’t seen the “real” Houssem Aouar in a long time, and there are a few reasons for that, but at this point it’s been long enough for me to accept that he’s not the same player anymore. Unfortunately, his decision to sign for Roma was also not a very good one, as it was fairly clear from the beginning that it wasn’t the ideal environment for him to get his career back on track in, which has proven to be true so far.
Still, Aouar has shown enough in recent seasons to prove that he’s still a good midfielder. It is in the final third where he has become increasingly inconsistent, as his performances have been plagued by poor finishing and lackluster creativity. Otherwise, Aouar harbors a consistent level of class in possession, and a defensive edge, which makes him an exciting 8 when he’s on the pitch, and when he’s in the mood to play. Unfortunately, however, it’s been all too often that we’ve seen him unable to display his most desirable characteristics, or that he’s otherwise been unavailable for his team, the latter of which has come to define this current season so far.
67. Yacine Adli (Milan)
I’ve been a fan of Yacine Adli since his time at Bordeaux, which made it very hard to see him be completely neglected by Stefano Pioli last season. Luckily, however, Adli’s influence has increased this season, as he’s been played as a number 6 — a role in which Adli is still raw by all means, but in which he’s displayed exciting potential, while also showing us that he still has many of the tools that made him such an exciting player at Bordeaux.
As a 6, the main thing Adli has displayed is his special technical ability. Even in this regard he’s still not completely consistent, but the upside is enormous. He can take on his opponents, he can receive the ball fairly well, he can carry the ball, and his passing range is phenomenal. What he lacks is technical consistency, technical security, and decision-making, which should all come with time, but which limit his immediate value. Adli’s experience as a box-to-box at Bordeaux also makes his strong defensive work and ball-winning unsurprising, but in this area he also needs to be more consistent. Adli can be rash, out of position, or simply vulnerable in 1v1 positions, but if Hakan Çalhanoğlu can be a starting 6 for a top team in this league, I don’t see why Yacine Adli won’t eventually be able to too. In fact, Adli’s raw tools are probably even greater than Hakan’s were before Hakan made his transition from an 8 to a 6. It’s great to see that Adli’s development is now heading in the right direction, and hopefully this is only the beginning.
66. Yunus Musah (Milan)
Yunus Musah is another young Milan midfielder, whose tools are perhaps more intriguing than his direct output. Nonetheless, I think Musah boasts more in terms of immediate quality, despite being younger than Adli. With Musah having been a regular starter in the top five leagues since he was 18, this perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise.
One of the reasons why Musah has such extensive senior experience at such a young age is that he’s very physically developed. He’s still a largely raw player when it comes to technical consistency, decision-making, and defensive contribution, but pace, power and effort is a guarantee is a guarantee when Musah plays. Still, even now, it is likely that Musah’s press-resistance and ball-carrying would be more prominent in a better structured- and coached team in possession, while he would likely also be more effective off the ball in a team that was better at pressing. Musah is not only someone who displays exciting flashes here and there, which he partly proved at the World Cup, where he was the standout player for the US, at least in my eyes. At the World Cup, Musah was both relatively efficient and very progressive in buildup, while his ball-winning was also more prominent than it has been at club level. Nonetheless, inconsistency and general rawness is naturally a part of Musah’s game at such a young age, which limits his immediate value.
65. Charles De Ketelaere: (Atalanta)
It’s hard to summarize who Charles De Ketelaere is without telling the full story, because he’s still a raw, developing player, who is widely misunderstood. Right now his confidence is not at an all-time high, his physical development is holding him back, but his physical profile, understanding of the game, and technical ability alone make him a good Serie A player.
In Gasperini’s system, CDK has been physically challenged, and forced to do a lot of dirty work, as his hold-up play is heavily used. The results are mixed, because De Ketelaere has the frame, he has the technique, and he has the intelligence, but he doesn’t have the muscles. Nonetheless, he’s making progress, and is looking more and more refined in buildup, with at least one moment of brilliance a game. As for the final third, he’s once more challenged in Gasperini’s Atalanta, which could be an excuse for his end product not exploding yet, but the truth is that De Ketelaere still has a lot to refine in this department, from ball-striking, to decision-making, to once again dealing with physical defenders. Still, De Ketelaere is a true all-round forward, which also extends to the defensive side of things, likely CDK’s most underrated attribute.
Charles De Ketelaere is a ticking time bomb, and I am perhaps waiting/hoping for the explosion more than anyone else.
64. Jens-Lys Cajuste (Napoli)
Jens-Lys Cajuste has had a slow start to his Napoli career, which was important in showing that he still has a lot to work on, because the traits he displayed at Reims were almost so exciting that he appeared to be a fully developed player. Still, Cajuste has had to adapt to a more possession-based team, which has come with some growing pains. He is still a relatively unrefined and inefficient player in possession, while he can also lack discipline out of it. Still, the upside is massive. Cajuste is a progressive player who is excellent at dribbling and ball-carrying, while he can also be a very effective combative midfielder out of possession. In fact, Cajuste has even shown potential in the final third, but this is the area in which he’s the least refined. Overall, Cajuste’s raw talent is huge, and with a new manager next season, and a year of experience at Napoli behind him, Cajuste will hopefully be set for a big breakout season next year. So far, though, I’m somewhat reserved when it comes to his current abilities.
63. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Inter)
Somewhat similarly to Francesco Acerbi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s resurgence since joining Inter has largely come from him being put in an environment that’s ideal for his individual prowess, but there’s two sides to that coin: it also proves that he was not in the right environment at Roma.
I think Mkhitaryan’s strong form should be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s clear that he still has gas left in the tank, and his post-Premier League renaissance has been very pleasant to follow. Mkhitaryan only really excels at ball-carrying, but is decent-good at almost everything else: although he’s not very good in 1v1 situations and his overall defensive skillset is limited, he is by all means effective in the press, while he’s a fairly efficient, progressive player in buildup, and a dual threat in the final third. It’s fair to say that he has been an excellent free signing for Inter, and at nearly 35 years old, Henrikh Mkhitaryan can still play; today as a box-to-box midfielder.
62. Enzo Barrenechea (Frosinone)
Personally, I first heard of Enzo Barrenechea when Massimiliano Allegri shockingly decided to start him in the Derby della Mole earlier this year. Even at the age of 21, it could be defined as his first senior start, although his experience with Juventus Next Gen in Serie C had clearly prepared him well for the senior game, because he has since gone on loan to Frosinone, where he has been very good.
Barrenechea is not too dissimilar from his compatriot Leandro Paredes, but has already proven to be more effective — although occasionally rash — off the ball, while also being more technically secure on the ball, although that is at the cost of a lack of progressiveness, which is Barrenechea’s biggest flaw at the moment. Barrenechea is fundamentally excellent on the defensive end, and with more experience he will hopefully become more disciplined and consistent in this area, which could make him a leading regista in this league. Until then, his defensive rashness and lack of progressiveness is limiting his value, but he is by all means already a really solid midfielder.
61. Samuele Ricci (Torino)
This season Torino have regressed, and subsequently we’ve seen Samuele Ricci’s development stagnate, but even then he remains one of the better midfielders in this league.
Last season was somewhat of a breakout season for Ricci, as he had his first full quality season in the Serie A with Torino. Above all, he stood out for his press-resistance and technical security, although his length and intelligence also made him effective off the ball. Since then, not much has changed. He could still be a more impactful defender, he could be more progressive, and aside from that he is simply a very reliable 6/8, depending on where you want to play him. Perhaps Ricci needs another move to take the next step.
60. Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
Domenico Berardi has become a highly polarizing player in recent years, and although it’s easy to be impressed by his high goal contribution count in a mediocre team, season after season, I have my reservations about Berardi.
Berardi is by all means a good player, but I don’t think he has ever been exceptional. His biggest flaw is his poor physical profile — he’s not particularly quick, strong, or agile, which makes him a very limited player in buildup, and as a box threat. Nonetheless, Berardi is surprisingly dangerous off the ball, and with such excellent ball-striking as he possesses, that makes him a potential goal threat. His ball-striking, intelligence, and excellent passing technique also makes him an extremely proficient creator. Furthermore, despite his poor physical profile, Berardi is perhaps at his best when he’s facing one of the best teams in the league, even though those games should be more intense and physically demanding. Nonetheless, there’s a reason why Berardi is still at Sassuolo, and why he hasn’t become an important player of the Italian National Team. His lack of buildup contribution and his poor physical profile limit how effective he can be, and in many games he is reduced to a mere potential creative threat. Perhaps things could’ve gone differently if Berardi had moved to another team earlier in his career, but this is the current reality. Berardi is good, but he is not great, despite what his end product might imply.
59. Federico Dimarco (Inter)
Federico Dimarco is another player whose end product I think distracts people from his flaws. As a wing-back in Inter’s system, Dimarco is a perfect fit, and it’s an environment that maximizes his individual value, but it’s not reflective of his overall skillset, which is somewhat limited.
Dimarco is practically closer to a winger than a full-back for Inter, and for the standards a winger his end product is not exceptional. On the other hand, there are other parts of his game that are limited in this role, such as his contribution to buildup play. He has previously played as a wide center-back for Inter, where he has shown that he is at least a good progressor from deeper areas. Nonetheless, he also showed struggles with technical security, on top of being poor defensively. As a full-back — a more traditional and common role, suited to Dimarco — these are holes in his game that you otherwise don’t notice when he’s used as a wing-back. Furthermore, his final third contribution is inflated by his very advanced positional role, just as his buildup contribution is limited by it. On that note, it is of course necessary to praise Dimarco, however. His link-up play, ball-striking, and movement in the final third are exceptional, and he definitely deserves credit for his productivity. This productivity would not be sustainable if he were to play in a deeper role, but even as a full-back Dimarco would be a very dangerous player going forward; he’s one of the best crossers in the world, for one.
58. Carlos Augusto (Inter)
To put it briefly, Carlos Augusto is relatively similar to Federico Dimarco, in the way that some of his flaws are hidden when used as a wing-back. With that being said, his skillset is different. He’s better defensively, he’s better technically, but he’s clearly a level below Dimarco when it comes to end product.
Overall, what I think makes Augusto a better player than Dimarco, is the fact that I think he’s a better fit as a full-back, partly since defending and buildup contribution are more fundamental parts of full-back play than end product, in my eyes. With that being said, this is not to imply that Augusto would be a perfect full-back. For one, he’s been defensively inconsistent as a wing-back, and that’s despite the positional and spatial advantage. He is a very good ball-winner and surprisingly solid in the air, but in terms of positional awareness and 1v1 defending he’s more vulnerable. On the other hand, he’s a solid ball-carrier and very technically secure, which I think bodes well for his buildup play even from deeper areas. On top of that he is positionally very smart in advanced positions, and his ball-striking is great, which would inevitably make him an offensively impactful player even as a full-back.
57. Duván Zapata (Torino)
Even after severe injury- and consistency issues in recent years, I’m still not ready to accept that Duván Zapata has given everything he has to give at the highest level, and his performances at Torino this season speak in my favor.
Of course Zapata isn’t the player he was a couple years ago, but when he’s healthy he’s still a highly technical striker, whose final third contribution varies, and is admittedly hard to rely upon. Still, Zapata previously endured some serious lows in terms of final third impact, and so far this season he has at least been relatively impactful, although he’s nowhere near as impactful as he once was. Time has naturally taken its toll on Zapata’s body, but he’s still quite a solid target man who has a lot left to give in this league if he can just stay relatively healthy.
56. Tammy Abraham (Roma)
Tammy Abraham is quite similar to Duván Zapata in the sense that he fits the technical big man archetype, while also having struggled with injuries and final third contribution in recent years. The sad part, however, is that Tammy’s career hasn’t even truly started yet, unlike Zapata. Sure, he is already 26 years old, but his 2021–22 season was his first season as a bonafide starter in the top five leagues, and since then he’s had an underwhelming 2022–23 season, and is uncertain to even make an appearance this season, due to an ACL injury.
It’s hard to know how Tammy will recover from his ACL injury, but it’s hard to see him be completely unaffected, especially as his disappointing 2022–23 season left a bad aftertaste. Nonetheless, if anything, I am quite confident in Tammy’s technical ability and defensive contribution, the former of which is yet to be fully exploited at Roma since it doesn’t fully suit their style of play, but which is of high quality nonetheless. The main concern is Tammy’s final third impact, which has always been inconsistent in many ways, primarily due to poor finishing historically, but in the future an inability to function as a box threat may be the issue instead. Nonetheless, Tammy’s upside still holds value to me, which I think is fair considering it’s impossible to determine how well he will recover from his current injury.
55. Christian Pulisic (Milan)
Christian Pulisic is another player who has previously struggled with injuries, and while he’s thankfully managed to stay healthy at Milan so far this season, it has become evident that the injuries have already had an indefinite effect on Pulisic. With that being said, although Pulisic’s goal contributions paint a generous picture of the season he’s had so far, Pulisic is still quite a good player.
One of the reasons why Pulisic’s positive start at Milan is very impressive, is that I believe he’s been played out of position, at least in my opinion. He doesn’t have the same burst, agility and explosiveness that he once had, which really limits his turning, and as a right-footed player that limits him on the right wing. Instead, he’s a better and more natural fit for the left wing, but he’s still been fairly good on the right, where he’s played for the overwhelming majority of this season. Nowadays, Pulisic stands out less for what he does in buildup — where he’s still good — than for what he does in the final third. His output doesn’t fully reflect this so far this season, as his goal contribution numbers are inflated by his excellent finishing so far. On the other hand, by watching Milan play, you can see that Pulisic is also limited by a team that has been structurally terrible this season. This is not just something you may notice by watching Milan in general, but you can just see that when Pulisic actually gets into the final third with players around him, he tends to do a very good job. Games in which he’s unable to impact the game in the final third, are usually caused by a collective issue; he doesn’t get the chance to impact the game in the final third to begin with.
Pulisic’s xG-overperformance this season is not sustainable at his current rate, but I think he’s showed more than enough for me to believe that he can sustain an overperformance in general, because his finishing has been fundamentally excellent in many different scenarios this season. On top of that, Pulisic is a really smart player off the ball, which may show a lot more in the future, as Milan are set to bring in a new manager next season. His buildup play and creativity aren’t as strong as you would like nowadays, but instead I think he’s quite a good goal threat from out wide, and it’s good to see that his career is on the right track again, after some dark years at Chelsea.
54. Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina)
When Milan decided to let Giacomo Bonaventura’s contract expire in 2020, it was a decision that was heavily criticized by many, and even in retrospect the decision has been criticized. I’ve never been one of those critics, and even today I wouldn’t say I am, in fact I think Bonaventura started quite slow at Fiorentina, but has gotten successively better since then, and now he’s at his best.
While he often played out wide at Milan, Bonaventura has been established as an advanced 8/10 at Fiorentina, which is his true position. His game is quite simple, yet effective: Bonaventura is a direct, creative midfielder who excels in the second and third phase respectively. He’s an excellent carrier of the ball, a very good dribbler, and has become a very impressive dual threat in the final third, with great movement off the ball, fantastic finishing, and constant creative threat. He could be a more active and efficient player in buildup, defensively he doesn’t make much of an impact, and ultimately this is what separates him from the best in his position, but he still does the primary job of a player of his profile shockingly well considering his age.
53. Daichi Kamada (Lazio)
Daichi Kamada has had a slow start at Lazio, but fundamentally there hasn’t been anything wrong with his performances, and he’s mostly just struggling for playing time in a team that is struggling to perform. Generally, he looks like the same player he was at Lazio: a number 8 who doesn’t excel at much, but who is good at almost everything.
Defensively is probably where Kamada is the weakest, yet he’s still an effective presser who puts in effort out of possession. In buildup, meanwhile, he has an excellent passing range, and is able to progress play fairly efficiently. In the final third, Kamada has oddly been transformed from a creator to more of a goal threat in recent years, and while he is still capable of creating chances, he stands out more for his intelligent runs in the final third nowadays. Then, the fact that his ball-striking is excellent, makes Kamada an even bigger goal threat.
Lazio have themselves a very nice free signing in Daichi Kamada, and if he can grow into this team it could play a huge role in Lazio getting their season back on track.
52. Arthur Melo (Fiorentina)
Believe it or not, after all this time, Arthur Melo is finally staying healthy and playing some good football again. He is currently having the best season of his career since leaving Barcelona, which is very encouraging.
In a more possession-based team, Arthur has looked reincarnated, and has proven that he still boasts plenty of the same class that made him such a highly touted player years ago. He’s been extremely press-resistant, and a midfield metronome for Fiorentina. Then, on the defensive side of things, it’s more complicated. Arthur still isn’t an ideal lone 6 due to his lack of defensive prowess, while he isn’t an ideal 8 since he’s most impactful deeper down the pitch, and since he isn’t particularly influential going forward. Given his physical profile, it’s actually quite impressive how good Arthur is defensively. So far he’s been fantastic in 1v1 situations, and a generally good combative presence, but his lack of size is an obvious, well-established problem that may simply not be displayed in the output at the moment. Arthur doesn’t have the defensive edge needed to be a great lone 6, with his physical profile that will likely always be the case. It’s unfortunate, given how naturally gifted Arthur is, but it is the reality nonetheless.
51. Malick Thiaw (Milan)
Malick Thiaw is one of my favorites to potentially have a breakout season for Milan under a new manager next season. Similarly to Yacine Adli, he was neglected by Stefano Pioli for a long time last season, but eventually injuries forced Pioli to give Thiaw a chance, after which he has been Milan’s second starting center-back, next to Tomori.
Thiaw’s maturity, given his lack of experience playing at a high level, stood out from the beginning, and he has grown increasingly comfortable in Milan’s backline over time. Thiaw is possibly the most technical center-back Milan have had since Thiago Silva (granted, this is not saying much as the competition is poor), and in this aspect he has grown particularly. He is generally very composed, efficient, and progressive, but this can vary depending on the game state. As for his flaws, he does have a tendency to struggle in more intense games, as he can be quite flat-footed and/or have lapses of concentration, leading to mistakes. Moreover, this has also seen him commit mistakes out of possession, and his poor recovery speed has also been noticeable in such cases. For now, Thiaw is a bit of a loose cannon, but in such a structurally poor team, and at such a young age, this is not much of a long-term concern. Nonetheless, it is accounted for in this ranking, and does hold Thiaw back.
50. Boulaye Dia (Salernitana)
Neither Salernitana, nor Boulaye Dia are having a great season, and it looks like Dia won’t remain at the club for much longer anyway, but while last season was regarded as an extremely strong one by Dia, I actually think his previous two seasons were more indicative of his qualities. That is to say, the Boulaye Dia we’ve seen at Salernitana, is only a shell of who he can really be.
Dia is a unique, dynamic forward, who isn’t a lethal goal-scorer despite his 15 non-penalty goals last season, but someone who rather offers a little bit of everything. He’s a technical striker whose somewhat small frame makes him a nice link-up option in buildup, and he’s also a good dribbler and creator, who can therefore threaten from out wide. Again, goal-scoring is not a guarantee when it comes to Dia, and his 15 non-penalty goals last season were largely a result of incredible finishing, but his movement is good, and he is a natural, versatile finisher, which does make him a goal threat. There aren’t many strikers in Europe that are as truly complete as Dia, and while his lack of an area of expertise obviously limits him, his completeness as a forward naturally makes him a highly valuable player.
49. Armand Laurienté (Sassuolo)
Armand Laurienté’s first season in Serie A with Sassuolo seemed a little too good to be true given how drastically his performances had improved, despite him being 23/24 years old. Sure enough, this has seemed to be the case based on Laurienté’s performances so far this season, but that is not to imply that Laurienté isn’t still a very dangerous winger.
What you know you will get from Laurienté, is a threat from out wide. He is an excellent ball-carrier and dribbler, who is dangerous in this regard alone, but unlike former Sassuolo winger Jérémie Boga, Laurienté is a final third threat as well. This is ultimately where Laurienté has remained inconsistent throughout his career, but this may partly be down to him having played for teams that aren’t the most proficient in the final third. Nonetheless, while Laurienté is quite creative, his inconsistent goal-scoring feels quite natural, as his goals tend to come from clinical finishing more so than great movement. On top of this, Laurienté is not particularly technically secure, nor does he contribute defensively, but a player as threatening and potentially game-changing out wide can afford to have such holes in his game.
48. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)
Alessandro Bastoni is not the first, nor last player in this ranking to be called unique, but he might be thee most unique. At Inter he plays in a role that is hard to find in any other team in the world, and while he does so extremely well, I’m not as impressed with Bastoni when he’s used in more traditional roles.
Bastoni is called a center-back, which is fair enough, because I do think that’s the traditional position he fits the best. On top of this, Bastoni does have many qualities that are suited towards this position. Of course, Bastoni is one of the best progressive center-backs in the world, and furthermore his passing range is so good that he’s a creative threat at Inter… in that role, at least. As a traditional center-back, I think it’s only fair to say that this isn’t much more than a nice bonus, but a bonus is a bonus, and it is also symbolic of Bastoni’s excellent passing technique in general, as mentioned. An issue with Bastoni, on the other hand, is that his physical profile makes him quite flat-footed and stiff, which limits his turning radius, and this in turn limits Bastoni in possession — something which has become more clear when Bastoni has played as a true center-back for the Italian national team. Furthermore, Bastoni’s direct style of play makes him quite an inefficient player in possession — for all his successful progressive actions, Bastoni also loses the ball quite a bit, especially in more intense matches. Defensively, Bastoni has improved drastically in the air, but he still struggles a lot when it comes to 1v1 defending, which is largely down to him being quite flat-footed, again.
Overall, Bastoni may be perfect for Inter, but as an individual player he is more complicated. That is not to imply that he’s not a solid defender, though.
47. Danilo (Juventus)
I have to confess that Danilo is not my personal favorite player, not only due to his character, but also due to his unclear profile. However, it is undeniable that he has enjoyed a very nice renaissance in recent years. In a Juventus team that is intentionally rigid and disciplined, there is something fun about Danilo. He is highly aggressive off the ball, he wins his duels, he is extremely progressive in possession, and he is one of the best offensive center-backs in the world. Then, from a more boring perspective, the issue with Danilo is that he isn’t an ideal true center-back, nor is he a great full-back anymore, but with his skillset it’s hard to not see him as a valuable player. Despite his height, Danilo is not only lethal in the opposition’s box, but also aerially solid in general, and in the press he’s excellent. Would he struggle more with less defensive support, more space to defend, and increased box defending responsibilities? Absolutely, and this is definitely worth highlighting as Danilo is quite protected by the very unique role he has for Juventus. On top of that, his progressive qualities largely come from out wide, due to his experience as a full-back, but he is less proven in that regard in a more central role. On the other hand, Danilo is so fundamentally gifted that it’s hard to claim he would not be an effective progressor in a true center-back role. Instead, his inefficiency is more of an issue.
As much as Danilo has grown into a key player at Juventus, I think this largely comes down to the role he’s being used in, but that is not to imply that he doesn’t have many great qualities, nor that he hasn’t grown.
46. Stefan Posch (Bologna)
Stefan Posch initially garnered people’s attention through his quite surrealistic form in the final third at the start of last season, but as the season went on it became quite evident that there’s a lot more to his game. In fact, at this point it seems like last season’s final third masterclass wasn’t much more than a purple patch, and Posch is instead an incredibly defensively solid, reliable full-back.
Stefan Posch is not some hyper-offensive full-back who lives in the opponent’s half, but his profile is not as outdated in the modern game as you may think. He has a great passing range, he’s very technically secure, and you can certainly count on him in the defensive phase thanks to his experience as a center-back. It’s nice to have such a reliable full-back, but such a player also comes with obvious limits. Not only is Posch’s lack of ball-carrying and dribbling an obvious limit in buildup, but his lackluster final third contributions also limit the team’s attacks. With a player like Posch, consistency and reliability come at a certain price.
45. Benjamin Pavard (Inter)
Benjamin Pavard is yet to make much of an impact at Inter, having struggled with an injury, but from his recent years at Bayern München we know what kind of player he is. Unfortunately, Pavard is a player who is a lot more talented than he is effective. He doesn’t have the physical tools to be a top center-back, and he’s not good enough going forward to be a top full-back.
Nonetheless, Pavard does have some serious qualities. Out wide his passing range is phenomenal, as is his general tehcnical security and ball-retention, as he’s very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Moreover he is reliable in 1v1 situations, is positionally aware, and his anticipation is strong. However, he doesn’t carry the ball well, and this combined with his general lack of overall contribution going forward has made him a very limited full-back compared to the best in the business. So, why is he not a center-back? Well, he’s not overly quick or strong, and even in terms of his height he is undersized, which is not to mention that central defending is a completely different thing from wide defending, and is a lot more challenging. Pavard’s current skillset absolutely makes him a strong player, but with just one more true strength to his game he would be a completely different player, which is a shame. Luckily for Inter, Pavard’s CB/FB hybrid profile could see him excel in their 3–5–2 setup, despite the slow start.
44. Fabiano Parisi (Fiorentina)
Since moving to Fiorentina, Parisi’s overall game has clearly been enhanced from last season. He has a very broad, eye-catching skillset, but is still quite raw for the time being. For instance, he looks more technically comfortable at Fiorentina, and has learned to slow down a little, after being a very progressive player at Empoli. Still, Parisi could be an even more technically secure and efficient player with the ball at his feet. He’s exceptional when it comes to progressing play, but his ball-retention is still in question. Similarly, he has an exciting defensive skillset and usually puts a lot of effort in off the ball, and while he’s a great ball-winner and can be great in 1v1 situations, his positional awareness is sometimes severely lacking, and he’s not yet a consistent 1v1 defender. This is not too different of a description of Parisi compared to last year, but where he’s improved signficantly in his output, is in the final third, and the games reflect that. He is a quick, smart player with a great cross on him, and has displayed that to a much greater extent at Fiorentina, being productive even in an attack that has struggled a lot collectively. Going forward, Parisi will need to smoothen out some of the rough edges in his game, but he has now established himself as one of the best full-backs in the league.
42. Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli)
After some raw seasons at Sassuolo and a disappointing debut season at Napoli, I finally feel as though Giacomo Raspadori’s development is truly heading in the right direction. Despite weighing in at 69 kg and being 1.72 m tall, Raspadori looks like a natural fit at striker. As a goal- and overall final third threat, he still leaves a bit to be desired, but is a much more proficient threat than someone like Joshua Zirkzee. He has established himself as a smart player off the ball, and aside from excellent ball-striking he has also proven to be a great creator. More importantly, though, Raspadori looks fantastic when he drops deep, and this is where he truly shines. In previous seasons, we’ve seen glimpses of technical class from Raspadori, but this season he’s a legitimately valuable player in buildup, who has been excellent in a more deep-lying role, even though he isn’t perhaps as flashy as someone like Zirkzee. Defensive contribution is also no problem for Raspadori, and the only thing missing for him to establish himself as one of the better-best players in this league, is for him to be more dangerous in the box.
42. Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
I was never quite in agreement with those who saw Chiesa as one of the best players in the world after his 2020–21 season, but he was nonetheless a highly gifted and exciting winger, and it’s unfortunate that he’s not quite the same player anymore.
One thing Chiesa doesn’t seem to have lost, is his combination of ball-carrying and dribbling, which does make him a dangerous player out wide. Additionally, he remains a great ball-striker, but when it comes to creativity, movement off the ball, technical security, and even defensive contribution, I’ve seen a lot better from Chiesa in the past. In fairness, it is difficult to judge him since he hasn’t been playing as a true winger, but he’s played in previous roles earlier in his career, and there is a clear difference in how he’s looked. In a role that should enhance Chiesa’s end product, it has instead deteriorated compared to his best season, which I think is quite telling. He still gets into dangerous positions, but he’s not the same complete inside forward he once was, and his relative lack of end product is disappointing. Chiesa still has a greater upside, but struggles with some of the same issues as Armand Laurienté struggles with nowadays. Even then, that is not to imply that he isn’t good anymore, but rather that he’s not as good as he once was, although you still probably don’t want him matched up against your full-back. Chiesa is a dangerous player who’s unfortunately unable to make as profound of an impact as he once could.
41. Michele Di Gregorio (Monza)
Monza’s Michele Di Gregorio is having a breakout season, and is establishing himself as one of very few standout goalkeepers in this league. There are two clear flaws of his: he cannot defend crosses whatsoever, and he hasn’t proven to be comfortable coming off his line. Those are two serious issues, sure, but aside from that he is nothing short of exceptional. Di Gregorio is currently establishing himself as possibly the best shot-stopper in the league. On top of that, Di Gregorio is surprisingly technical, and now plays a fundamental role in Monza’s buildup. With traits like those, it might not take long until Di Gregorio is playing for one of the top teams in Italy.
40. Yann Sommer (Inter)
Inter have not particularly needed Yann Sommer this season, but in recent seasons he has proven that he is one of the better goalkeepers in the world. In fact, while Sommer is naturally almost always Inter’s least noticeable player, if you focus on his performances this season they have been very good. Like Di Gregorio, Sommer primarily stands out as a reliable shot-stopper and fantastic passer, which is extremely valuable in today’s game. Another similarity between the two is that Sommer is underwhelming when it comes to claiming crosses, while also not being exceptional at coming off his line, but since he is slightly more accomplished in these areas he feels like a more complete and reliable goalkeeper.
39. Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus)
When Andrea Cambiaso first broke through with Genoa I was intrigued, when he was on loan at Bologna I was impressed, and now at Juventus he is one of my favorite full-backs in the league. Out of all the players who have played wing-back for Juventus in recent years, Andrea Cambiaso looks like the most natural full-back, and that is backed up by the fact that he looked quite good as a left-back (and occasionally right-back) for Bologna last season.
Cambiaso is not overly direct or offensively oriented, but is a technically secure full-back who is excellent at progressing play through ball-carrying and dribbling when necessary. Defensively is where he’s lacking, but he’s not devoid of qualities, and has been effective in the press, in contrast to his 1v1- and positional struggles. Where he does look surprisingly good this season, is in the final third, where he has been as dangerous as ever before, and it’s not just because of the role he’s being utilized in. Due to his technical comfortability, ability to progress, and threaten in the final third, Cambiaso is one of the best natural full-backs in the league, although his defending can still improve considerably.
38. Samuel Chukwueze (Milan)
Samuel Chukwueze has had a slow start to his Milan career, having struggled with injuries, and having been held out of the starting lineup by an in-form Christian Pulisic. However, if Chukwueze’s two goals in the Champions League don’t do enough to convince you of his talent, you just have to look at his performances with Villarreal in recent years.
It is worth pointing out that Chukwueze is still a highly inconsistent player in the final third, who seems to pick and choose if he’s more effective as a goal threat or as a creative threat depending on the day. More importantly though, although he is yet to fully show it with Milan, Chukwueze is flat out one of the best dribblers and ball-carriers in the world, and while he’s not as flashy as Rafael Leão in that department, he might just be even better. That alone is enough to make Chukwueze a dangerous player, but he is also at least a competent final third threat with significant upside on top of that. It will be interesting to see how Chukwueze does next year under a new manager, because it feels like he is yet to be put in an environment where he can truly explode. Furthermore, until then, Chukwueze may be a very good winger, but he’s not one of the top players in this league.
37. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
Going back to Lorenzo Pellegrini’s pre-Mourinho performances has made me appreciate him a bit more, but there are many factors that indicate that he has regressed as a player since he was at his best, which is unfortunate. Even then, there aren’t many better 8/10 hybrids in this league than the Roma captain.
Pellegrini has always been a progressive and attacking player, even though that is being over-emphasized in his current role at Roma. When it comes to Pellegrini’s contribution in buildup, he is still a very gifted ball-carrier and dribbler. Where he’s increasingly disappointing in this regard, though, is in his technical security, ball-retention, and his long range passing, which is not to imply that he was excellent in all of these areas before, in fairness. While he was primarily a creator at his best, Pellegrini is now developing into more of a dual threat, who is still relatively creative, but perhaps more prominent as a box-crasher. This has not led to a lot of goals, as Pellegrini’s finishing has been poor as of late, but this is likely due to confidence, as Pellegrini’s ball-striking and finishing have been excellent for the majority of his career. On top of this, Pellegrini can still be good defensively, but he’s even beginning to look increasingly questionable in that area.
It’s clear that Pellegrini needs a new environment for his career to turn itself around, but for now that looks unlikely. Then again, I don’t think it’s too late, and I still think Pellegrini can be a really good number 8 in the right team.
36. Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta)
Teun Koopmeiners is one of the most strange players in the top five leagues, with an incredibly unique skillset and positional versatility. If you ask me, Koopmeiners is most effective as a number 8, but he’s also played regularly as more of an attacking midfielder, and as a 6.
Koopmeiners is definitely an eye-catching player, although he’s not necessarily the most efficient one. His role at Atalanta is extremely aggressive and offensive for a midfielder. He’s excellent at progressing play, not just thanks to his fantastic passing range, but also his ability to carry the ball. That does, however, come with the cost of efficiency, and he also isn’t the most naturally technically secure player, meaning he struggles with ball-retention even when he doesn’t attempt something progressive. On top of this, Koopmeiners is exceptional going forward for a midfielder playing in a team that has become increasingly defensive in recent years. For one he’s a smart player off the ball who’s occasionally able to crash into the box and score, but more notably his ball-striking is phenomenal, which makes him a goal threat in more advanced situations too. Even more notable is his creativity, which has really shone through since moving away from the Netherlands. As for how good Koopmeiners is defensively, he has seemingly regressed quite a bit since leaving the Eredivisie, but he is positionally aware and puts in effort, at the very least.
Ultimately it’s hard to evaluate a player with a profile as unique as Koopmeiners. He’s not too dissimilar from someone like Kevin De Bruyne if used as an 8, but he’s used in so many other ways, and obviously lacks so much of what De Bruyne has to offer. In any case, Koopmeiners is definitely one of the better midfielders in this league, he’s just not one of the best.
35. Piotr Zieliński (Napoli)
Piotr Zieliński is maybe not the most eye-catching player in the world, but over a full season you really can’t go wrong with him as your starting 8/10. Out of possession he doesn’t go above and beyond, but is positionally aware and a smart presser. In buildup he’s technically secure and progressive, and in the final third he’s a proficient creator, although a decreasingly dangerous goal threat. As he’s turning 30 around the end of the season, it’s no shock that Zieliński is starting to regress, but he still does the essential things you want from your advanced 8 at a very high level, and is one of the more reliable players in this league.
34. Lazar Samardžić (Udinese)
From an 8/10 hybrid who is starting to regress, to a 8/10 whose trajectory is heading upwards, Lazar Samardžić is regarded as one of the future stars of the Serie A, and for good reason. By now he is fully established as not just a starter for Udinese, but perhaps their most important player. Udinese have struggled immensely with results this season, and although their performances have been significantly stronger, it is highly impressive how Samardžić has played at such a high level this season. Even in a highly counter-attacking team, and with a lack of talent around him, Samardžić is a very dangerous player going forward for his position, and in a stronger team he would likely be one of the most productive midfielders in Europe. On top of that, Samardžić’s exceptional ball-carrying and dribbling is very useful in such a transition-based team, with the eye test also confirming that Udinese’s style of play doesn’t inflate his output in this regard, at least when it comes to his ability.
Where Samardžić can still improve is in his passing, general ball-retention and defensive contribution. It is clear that he has an exceptional technical base, but in such a transition-based team he hasn’t been able to work on technical security in match situations, which means he’s still very raw in this regard. Ultimately, this and his defensive contribution are things that can be coached over time, and as Samardžić’s inevitable departure from Udinese edges closer — following a failed move to Inter last summer — it may only be a matter of time until Samardžić is one of the best midfielders in this league.
33. Ivan Ilić (Torino)
With him having previously at least been contracted to Manchester City for three years, I was always intrigued by Ivan Ilić at Hellas Verona, but I was never outright impressed with him. With a move to Torino, he wasn’t suddenly playing for the best team in the world, but it was evidently enough for Ilić to finally display what he can do on a more consistent basis.
Ilić has slowly but surely turned into one of my favorite midfielders in the league, and in a Torino team that is even more dull than it was over the last two seasons, Ilić is one of few players who make the team worth watching. Ilić has embraced a more direct and aggressive role this season, in which his creativity has proven to be exceptional. Ilić doesn’t just play the final ball, but can play various passes that unlock the opposing defense, which has proven to be extremely valuable for a Torino team that has struggled in attack for a while. Naturally, Ilić’s general passing range is also excellent, much like his ball-carrying, and his progressive qualities have really shone through this season. Defensively Ilić is not spectacular, but he is positionally aware, anticipates well, and is relatively good in duels. This, along with ball-retention, are two things that Ilić can improve going forward, although he is more technically secure than his output would suggest. Nonetheless, my feeling is that Ilić might be another move away from developing into one of the top midfielders in this league, similarly to his compatriot, Lazar Samardžić.
32. Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
As Giorgio Scalvini has gained more experience at the highest level, he’s endured more struggles, and more of his flaws have been exposed. Given he plays for one of the better teams in the Serie A, has appeared for the Azzurri on multiple occasions, and is such a highly touted prospect, this has led to increased scrutiny of his game, but it’s imperative to remember that he just turned 20 years old. Nonetheless, when it comes to assessment of current ability, his age will not be relevant, and from this perspective he’s obviously not perfect.
Scalvini is a player who stands out in the eye-catching actions, for better or worse. He’s a monster of a duel-winner both on the ground and in the air, which is due to his physical profile and defensive fundamentals for one, but also a good understanding of the game. Additionally, he’s a really progressive player in possession. What he cannot offer at the moment, is efficiency and consistency. He wins plenty of duels, but he also loses quite a few. He completes plenty of progressive actions every game, but is also prone to losing the ball. On top of that, his positioning can use some work, but regarding what he can become in the long-term I can’t speak highly enough of Scalvini.
31. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Milan)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a player who was highly touted when he was young, but who never reached his potential, however this was not the case to the same extent as it had appeared to many for a long time. Despite the limited playing time in 2018–19, he was exceptional, but would seemingly fade away after that season. At the same time, in his final two seasons at Chelsea I was personally shocked by how good he was, and now with a greater role at Milan, he has been given an opportunity to display some of his exceptional attributes.
Loftus-Cheek has been widely regarded as a successful signing among an array of Milan summer signings that has been a mixed bag so far, but even then I personally think we are yet to see Loftus-Cheek at his best. Despite his size, Loftus-Cheek is not particularly good defensively, and when you also factor in his technical ability his overall impact is maximized in a more possession-based team. Loftus-Cheek’s special physical profile does help him when he has the ball, as he is quick, strong, explosive and surprisingly agile, while he’s also naturally gifted on the ball. Compared to other midfielders, Loftus-Cheek can be a bit stiff, which leads to a level of inconsistency when he has the ball, but this is a byproduct of his physical profile, which combined with his technical ability is the foundation of his game. He’s extremely difficult to dispossess, he’s extremely good at progressing play, and when he’s being used in a more advanced role, he is not someone who merely excels in buildup — unlike in his last years at Chelsea — but someone who can also contribute going forward.
30. Paulo Dybala (Roma)
Paulo Dybala’s stint at Roma has been bittersweet so far, at least in my eyes. On the one hand he’s found a place where he’s truly valued and appreciated. On the other hand, he’s proven to be a much more simple player than he once was.
What Dybala excels at nowadays, is end product. He still has a nice technical base, but what he really excels at is playing the final ball, getting into the box, and frequently also shooting from range, which he is obviously very good at. Even in an environment which hasn’t been ideal for Dybala’s productivity, he has been very productive, while he’s still average at worst in buildup. Another issue, though, is Paulo Dybala’s lack of a clear-cut role in today’s game. The number 10 role is dying, and Dybala is not quite ideal as either an advanced 8, a winger, nor as a striker… but the key word is ideal, and that is only in relativity to his talent; it’s not how you get the most out of him. Nowadays I view Dybala as more of a false nine, and in this role he can still be really good, but unfortunately he’s not quite the Paulo Dybala we all know and love (even rival fans, although we don’t like to admit it).
29. Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter)
I have a very hard time assessing Hakan Çalhanoğlu nowadays, which is by no means due to obvious personal issues I have with him, but due to the fact that he’s a highly imperfect 8, and a highly unconventional, yet shockingly good lone 6. Who is Hakan really? Well, at this point, I think I’ve been more impressed with Hakan over the past year than I was when he was playing as an 8 for Inter, so there is your answer.
The most impressive, and perhaps also the most shocking part about Hakan’s transformation into a regista, is that he’s been very reliable defensively. He’s not particularly aggressive or anything, but boasts surprisingly good defensive fundamentals, which he’s combined with positional awareness to become a very respectable defensive anchor for Inter. Then, when it comes to Hakan’s contribution in buildup, I’m more conflicted. Hakan obviously has an extremely good passing range, and in the Serie A this season he’s also been really technically secure, but in more intense matches he can really struggle with both of these aspects. His ball progression can also be a bit one-dimensional and reliant on passing. He’s still shockingly proficient in the final third, despite his deep role, but overall it’s clear that Hakan is lacking a lot of what the magical Marcelo Brozović had. Still, Hakan is playing in an incredibly influential role, and if he weren’t good in it, Inter would not be such a good team.
28. Amir Rrahmani (Napoli)
Over the last year or so, I think we have gotten a pretty good impression of who Amir Rrahmani really is as a player. Last season did wonders for his stocks, as he was a bonafide starter while Napoli cruised to a historic scudetto, but since then we’ve also learned that this doesn’t paint the full picture. Amir Rrahmani is an excellent defender, but only under certain conditions. Last season he had a leader next to him in the backline, in Kim Min-jae, and it was pretty clear who was Batman and who was Robin in that partnership. There’s nothing wrong with playing a more secondary role in and of itself, but it’s also important to acknowledge that Rrahmani is more of a complimentary center-back, and his struggles have increased with increased responsibility. He’s a very technical defender who does his job on that end, and he’s dominant in the air on the other end, but overall he’s not a game-changer, which we even saw on certain occasions last season. It feels odd to crown a player of Rrahmani’s type as one of the very best defenders in Serie A — a league historically known for its defending — but Rrahmani really is that good at his ideal role.
27. Mathías Olivera (Napoli)
It’s terrible to see anyone go down with a serious injury, but in Mathías Olivera’s case it’s particularly sad as he was having somewhat of a breakout season, despite Napoli’s collective struggles. Hopefully it doesn’t do too much for his momentum though, as Olivera should be back in around a month.
Having been signed from Getafe last year, with four seasons of experience under the notoriously tactically rigid José Bordalás under his belt, Olivera had his work cut out for him as soon as he chose to play for Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli. This showed in the beginning, as Spalletti usually elected to start Mário Rui over Olivera, but as the season progressed, Olivera began look more comfortable in Napoli’s system, and he slowly but surely stole the starting spot from Rui. From his experience at Getafe, Olivera is naturally a tough, physical, and defensively solid full-back, but since joining Napoli he has become significantly more complete. While his progressive abilities are still not exceptional, he has become an exceptionally technically secure full-back, which has taken his game to a different level. On top of that, Olivera doesn’t excel in the final third by any means, but has largely been solid, and at this point he’s about as reliable of a full-back as you’ll find in this league.
26. Tijjani Reijnders (Milan)
Tijjani Reijnders has been a mixed bag for Milan so far, but I think anyone can see his talent. Reijnders is certainly not scared when he has the ball, and is usually rather quite ambitious with it, which is one of the reasons for his inconsistencies so far. In some instances, Reijnders is overly ambitious and therefore loses the ball, and while this may be frustrating to see when you’re watching Reijnders, I think it’s partly a tactical issue. Milan have a very direct style of play that encourages Reijnders to play this way, andI really don’t think it’s ideal. In a more possession-based team, I think Reijnders is a completely different player, and that is not only an optimistic response to what has been a partly disappointing start at Milan by Reijnders, but rather based on his performances in the Eredivisie. Of course, a player will naturally perform at a higher level against weaker competition, but I think the more important aspect to highlight here is Reijnders’ style of play in the Eredivisie, which is more universally applicable.
In the Eredivisie, Reijnders was a complete maestro in midfield, consistently able to take defenders on, carry the ball, break the lines, play long passes, and even be involved in more decisive actions in the final third. We’ve seen much of this at Milan, and we’ve seen many of these actions fail, but what we haven’t seen as much of is Reijnders’ complete play in possession. In the Eredivisie, he was also completely fine with focusing on retaining possession, and building up play with patience, as opposed to immediately going into attack mode. This aggressive tendency of Reijnders’ at Milan can also be explained by a signficant decrease in touches (largely comes down to tactics, again), which could motivate him to make the most of his touches. Nonetheless, while some growing pains are inevitable when you start playing against a higher level of competition, I don’t really see this reflected in any meaningful capacity in Reijnders’ on-ball activity. You can regularly still see him do the same things he was doing at AZ Alkmaar. Instead, where I think Reijnders suffers is off the ball, where he hasn’t been outright bad, but where he definitely needs to improve. Nonetheless, I think the best of Reijnders in Serie A is yet to come, and under a new manager next season he could make quite the leap; and not just in terms of performances.
25. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa has not quite been the same since around the end of last season, which can have multiple causes, including a collective regression of Napoli around the same time they were eliminated from the Champions League, and a significant tactical regression this season. Nonetheless, after seeing what Anguissa did for the majority of last season, I still firmly believe he’s one of the better players in this league.
When Anguissa had first signed for Napoli, he largely stood out for his defensive contribution, but last season this would change. When it came to winning duels, Anguissa was suddenly quite poor, something which has partly continued this season, but his positional awareness and anticipation have both remained strong, making him a positive defensive presence overall. More importantly, though, Anguissa’s combination of size, elegance and technical ability would make him highly effective in possession — very technically secure, but also progressive. Whereas Stanislav Lobotka’s role in possession was more so based in retaining possession, Anguissa was asked to be more progressive, which he handled excellently. Anguissa was even surprisingly impactful in the final third, establishing himself as a truly complete midfielder. While he can be inconsistent both in and out of possession, making him a bit of a loose cannon, Anguissa is generally a great box-to-box midfielder.
24. Remo Freuler (Bologna)
In his return to Serie A, Remo Freuler looks better than ever before. Bologna don’t have a particularly direct style of play, and Freuler embodies that with his extremely efficient, yet effective passing. He rarely loses the ball, but not at the cost of passiveness. There are certainly more daring midfielders in this league, but most of them can’t control a match the way Freuler does with Bologna. Meanwhile, Freuler is not world class defensively, but generally very strong, with enough of a physical edge not to be overpowered, and with strong defensive fundamentals and awareness, which he’s carried over from his time at Gasperini’s Atalanta.
Sure, he could be more progressive, and he could even be more impactful defensively, but when it comes to the fundamentals of a number 6, Freuler is really good, so unless you have someone who’s even better in these areas, why would you not want Freuler in your team? Remo Freuler is enjoying a beautiful career renaissance in Bologna.
23. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Ademola Lookman always seemed like an interesting signing by Atalanta, but it has defied expectations in many ways despite that. Not only has Lookman been much better than most will have expected, but he’s done so in a manner which was not expected. That is to say, Lookman — who was previously a really gifted winger with inconsistent end product — has been morphed into a really dangerous forward.
Lookman has been fantastic for Atalanta, but I also think he’s benefited from the system they play, and I don’t think he would be quite as effective as a winger or as a true number 9. With that being said, his movement off the ball has proven to be exceptional, and so has his finishing — in the box he looks like a natural forward. Naturally, his experience from out wide also makes him a highly technical player for his position, and he is therefore also a creative threat, aside from a valuable player in buildup. A lot more obstacles appear come if he were to play as a lone number 9, especially due to his physical profile, but while his technical ability will be useful regardless, his movement and finishing also shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s good to see Lookman truly make a career for himself in Italy.
22. Jhon Lucumí (Bologna)
For anyone who thinks left-footed center-backs don’t work together, you should watch Thiago Motta’s Bologna, whose three primary center-backs are all left-footed. One of these center-backs is Jhon Lucumí, who was signed by Bologna last season, after which he has grown exponentially.
Lucumí has become an extremely technical center-back, who puts ball-retention above all else. Lucumí has no problem carrying the ball or breaking the lines when he has the option to, but stands out more for his ability to evade pressure and retain possession as Bologna are playing out from the back. This is something Lucumí has gotten progressively more comfortable with over time, and the same can be said about his defending, which may still be getting better right now, based on his performances this season. Lucumí is a confident, front-footed defender who mostly stands out in the press, but who is becoming increasingly comfortable defending in the box as well. Lucumí’s height of 1.84 m means he’s at a disadvantage aerially, and while he has mostly been underwhelming in this regard since joining Bologna, he seems to be improving. Lucumí is one of the best defenders in the Serie A, and even though he’s 25 it seems like he’s only going to get better.
21. Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta)
Gianluca Scamacca is very hard to assess, because to me it’s clear that he didn’t just flop at West Ham because it was a bad fit for him, but also because there are clear flaws in his game that prevent him from being a true top striker in this league. With that being said, he somehow comes with a certain inevitability factor, in spite of his flaws. He is a player of many contradictions.
At 1.95 m tall, Scamacca is a very unique player, and one problem he has is technical consistency. Something which has stood out about Scamacca for a long time, is that his technical upside is huge for a player of his size. For now, though, he mainly excels at more advanced passing, and when it comes to his general hold-up play he severely lacks consistency, both due to varied technical quality and due to poor decision-making. Still, while Scamacca doesn’t excel at intricate movement in the box, he is a huge threat due to his size, and this season he has showed that. In fact, with Scamacca’s phenomenal finishing also accounted for, Scamacca is about as dangerous of a goal threat as you can find in this league. With that being said, there are certain issues that still keep him from reaching the level of someone like Lautaro Martínez.
20. Nicolò Rovella (Lazio)
Despite a slow start — largely in the form of a lack of playing time — Nicolò Rovella is slowly but surely establishing himself as one of very few redeeming players of this Lazio season.
Rovella has continued to look vulnerable in 1v1 situations, but aside from that his overall defensive contribution has improved, and he’s still an incredibly intelligent and effective ball-winner, despite his unimpressive frame. Aside from that, the class Rovella shows in possession is extraordinary, especially for someone his age, and similarly to someone like Remo Freuler he doesn’t need to be too progressive to be impactful in possession. When necessary he is able to progress play, but he stands out more for his incredible ability to evade pressure, which is an invaluable quality in today’s game. On top of all this, Rovella is only going to get better, and under the right conditions he can become a true top player.
19. Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina)
The way things have looked in recent years, the best center-backs have generally been characterized by consistent defensive solidity, and technical security in possession. The more aggressive center-backs who excel in winning a lot of duels and completing a lot of progressive actions, have been less prominent. On a wider scale this is worth clarifying when discussing Lucas Martínez Quarta, as he is one of the highest ranked center-backs on this list. With that being said, I do believe that there simply aren’t that many truly exciting, developed center-backs in this league, and while Martínez Quarta doesn’t fit the prototype of the average top defender, I truly think he’s a very good, and underrated center-back.
As implied, Martínez Quarta is a defender who excels at the eye-catching actions, and he is probably Serie A’s very best duel-winner. This even extends to his aerial ability, which is generally really strong despite Martínez Quarta’s relatively short height of 1.83 m. Martínez Quarta’s ability to win duels really shouldn’t be underestimated, because not only does he win them in volumes, but the efficiency with which he wins them is also quite extraordinary. This is exemplified by the last full game of Martínez Quarta I watched, where he was able to disrupt Romelu Lukaku’s hold-up play all game long, which is far from an easy task. In fact, this game somewhat epitomizes Martínez Quarta, as Lukaku did score, but when analyzing the goal it was by no means due to poor play from Martínez Quarta. Fiorentina have been prone to conceding a lot of chances for a while now, and Martínez Quarta has played a certain part in that — partly through errors in possession, and partly through poor positioning — but generally I think the goals Fiorentina concede are a consequence of something else, which can be tactical, the error of another player, or both. With that being said, despite his highly progressive style of play in possession, and even his shocking tendency to contribute in the final third, Martínez Quarta does struggle with efficiency and consistency, which is what’s holding him back. Even then, I believe he’s one of the most underrated defenders in Europe.
18. Sam Beukema (Bologna)
Sam Beukema is not a signing who I had particularly high expectations for, and so far this season he has been infinitely better than I had anticipated. Out of the very talented trio of starting center-backs at Bologna, I feel quite confident in saying that Beukema is the best, in fact he’s one of the best defenders in the league… if he’s really as good as he’s looked so far this season
Beukema is another player who is not overly progressive, but incredibly risk-averse and efficient. Through this style of play, Beukema is constantly comfortable with the ball at his feet, and never makes a bad decision — something which may not seem as valuable as it has proven to be at Bologna. However, if you watch Bologna play, you can see how fundamental Beukema is to their buildup. Even more importantly, he has essentially been spotless defensively, and “composure” is the word that best describes Beukema’s game, both on and off the ball. He’s not particularly aggressive, but his positional awareness is excellent, and when he’s asked to defend he does so with ease, whether it’s in the press or in the box. There’s a reason why Bologna have had such a good defensive record this season, and Beukema has clearly been their standout defender in my eyes.
17. Romelu Lukaku (Roma)
Purely based on performances, I have been extremely impressed by Lukaku since around March of this year, and I don’t think he’s much worse than he was when Inter won the scudetto in 2020–21. However, what we overlooked back then was how much he benefitted from playing next to another striker, and how much less effective he is as a lone striker.
When Lukaku is the focal point of an attack, the defensive attention he gets is naturally increased, and while he can be very effective on the ball, there are obvious limits to his technical ability that are exposed along with increased defensive focus on Lukaku. He is not just reliant on his hold-up play, but also intricate link-up play that is hard to accomodate for when he’s being used as a lone striker. To put it more concisely; when Lukaku is used as a lone striker he becomes increasingly isolated, and his technical flaws are subsequently exposed. The role makes all the difference, as Lukaku goes from a devastatingly dynamic final third threat, to a physically imposing goal threat in the box, who complements great movement with (generally) excellent finishing, but who also tends to struggle in buildup, and who relies on quality service. Romelu Lukaku is a great striker, but he’s not the world class player we once thought he was.
16. Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli)
Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo had only gotten better during the years leading up to his 30th birthday, and today there aren’t many full-backs in the world that are better than him.
After suffering through a bit of an attacking slump in 2021–22, this has returned to be a major strength of Di Lorenzo since the beginning last season, as Di Lorenzo is not only an excellent crosser, but also an occasional goal threat. More importantly, where Di Lorenzo has remained exceptional in recent years, is on the ball. Thanks to his close control and clean passing, he is not just very technically secure, but also a fantastic progressor of the ball, and in this department there aren’t many full-backs above Di Lorenzo. Off the ball, Di Lorenzo is perhaps not the lockdown defender some have praised him as in recent years, but I would say he’s mediocre at worst, and there have been seasons in which it’s been a legitimate strength of his. In any case, Di Lorenzo has no outright weakness, and is one of the best right-backs in the world.
15. Marcus Thuram (Inter)
While Marcus Thuram has thrived at Inter for similar reasons as Romelu Lukaku did, he had already proven to be an excellent lone striker in his final season at Borussia Mönchengladbach, albeit he is a rather unconventional one.
Most importantly, Marcus Thuram is excellent off the ball, and a very intelligent player, but although his xG-numbers were pretty last season, Thuram has more than proven that he’s a poor finisher by now. Nonetheless, this is why I believe finishing is highly overrated, because you can be a bad finisher and still be a very productive player, and Thuram is just that. With his excellent movement, and with great passing technique, Thuram is a good goal-scorer, and a great creator, which makes him extremely dangerous in the final third. Despite his size, Thuram has spent a significant portion of his career as a winger, which has partly given him a very nice technical foundation and great hold-up play, but also excellent movement in wide areas, which is what makes him such a dynamic player. While it does make him slightly unreliable in terms of end product, Marcus Thuram shows why finishing is one of the most overrated attributes in football.
14. Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli)
Given his physical profile, it should be impossible for Stanislav Lobotka to be as good as he is. He is 1.68 m tall, and he’s not extremely quick or agile, but he is unequivocally one of the best midfielders in the league.
Lobotka is another player who is not very progressive, but who protects the ball like few others in the world. When you look at his output, you might assume that he constantly passes the ball backwards, but he is reather just about as press-resistant of a player as you’ll find on this planet, and his selection of passes is almost always completely reasonable. What Lobotka does on the ball is, again, invaluable nowadays, and even though he’s mediocre off the ball, he’s still an exceptional midfielder overall. Napoli’s success last season was a testament to this.
13. Ismaël Bennacer (Milan)
There aren’t many midfielders like Ismaël Bennacer out there; midfielders who are seriously about as good on the ball as they are off it. Despite being a bit undersized, Bennacer is a monster off the ball. He may struggle in the air, but otherwise his positioning is good, his anticipation is exceptional, his 1v1 defending is great, and he’s one of the best tackling midfielders in the league. In possession, Bennacer is highly progressive and an exceptional passer, but due to his close control and dribbling he is also incredibly press-resistant. In a team that has lacked proper coaching and appropriate possession-based setup in recent years, Bennacer has been one of the least affected players, which might give you an idea of how effective he could be in a different team. He does have one clear flaw, which is that his size occasionally makes him vulnerable defensively, and he also hasn’t played as a lone 6, although I think it’s a role he would fit well.
12. Daniel Boloca (Sassuolo)
There have been a few completely shocking breakout seasons in the Serie A this year, but the most shocking one might very well be Daniel Boloca. Sassuolo have not been very good, and this is Boloca’s first ever season outside of the Serie B, yet I don’t see an argument for why he isn’t an elite midfielder in this league. He does everything Stanislav Lobotka does, but has a superior physical profile and is therefore a level above Lobotka defensively, and on top of that he’s even more agile and mobile. His output is phenomenal, and the eye test backs it all up. Daniel Boloca has the intelligence and technical ability of Stanislav Lobotka, but is a considerably better athlete. In a top team he might theoretically need some time to adapt, but in any case I don’t see why Boloca isn’t getting any recognition this season. He is a phenomenal midfielder.
11. Nicolò Barella (Inter)
Nicolò Barella is someone who has grown off me over the last year or so, but what I will absolutely not deny is that he’s one of the best players in the Serie A.
An area in which Barella has actually grown on me, is his defensive contribution. In my eyes he’s not great defensively, but calling it a weakness would be harsh. Barella is very good positionally, he’s a good presser, and his tackling is good. On a more critical note, while Barella is very press-resistant, I think his overall technical security is underwhelming. Statistically, his low pass completion is not merely a result of him being a creator and taking high risk passes, but due to a lack of consistency in buildup. This is an aspect that separates Barella from many of the very best players in his position. Aside from that, Barella is still an extremely good progressor of the ball, with a beautiful passing range, and with the speed and explosiveness to be a great carrier of the ball. His wonderful passing also extends to the final third, where one pass from Barella can unlock the opposition, even if it isn’t the final ball. On a similar note, Barella is very good in the final third, but it is slightly concerning how he has seemingly regressed in this department since the 2021–22 season. There are two sides to that coin, as that season was by far the best of his career in terms of final third impact, and while it seemed like Barella naturally reaching his prime at the time, it might have been an overperformance. Barella is still excellent in buildup, and good enough defensively, but without the cutting edge in the final third that he had a couple seasons ago, I don’t rate him quite as highly anymore.
10. Matías Soulé (Frosinone)
Daniel Boloca’s breakout season probably isn’t as shocking to me as the lack of credit he gets. As for Matías Soulé, however, I am quite literally lost for words at his season so far. In fact I have to come clean and say that he would rank many spots higher if he were to sustain his current form for the rest of the season, and that is usually not how I evaluate a player, as I want as pure of an assessment as possible.
Matías Soulé had amassed 6.1 senior 90s prior to this season (via FBref), and turned 20 as recently as last April, which means that it really shouldn’t be possible for him to be as good as he is, but by now a little less than half the season has passed, and he has been phenomenal from the beginning. When you consider who he plays for, I’m not sure how many players you can say have played better than Soulé in the Serie A this season. He’s been an exceptional creator, he’s been a threat off the ball, his finishing has been clinical, his dribbling has been unbelievable, his overall buildup play has been great, and he’s even been contributing defensively. He’s been performing like an elite player in this league, and I’ve never such a breakout season in my life, so I’m assuming it will begin to deteriorate eventually. Still, based on what I’ve seen from Soulé, I maybe wouldn’t compare him to Rafael Leão or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but the eye test is not a significant contrast to Soulé’s output at all. He seems to be the next big thing, perhaps not just in Serie A, but in European football as a whole. I was completely stunned by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s breakout season last year, but I’m not sure that even compares to Soulé’s current season. I have a tough time accepting that one of the best players in the league just wasn’t even in consideration to start football matches last season, but I guess that’s just how the cookie crumbles.
9. Fikayo Tomori (Milan)
Fikayo Tomori is a player who I’ve changed my opinion on a lot since he signed for Milan, and although Milan are struggling as a collective, I’m currently higher on Tomori than I ever have before. Previously I’ve questioned his consistency in 1v1 defending, his aerial ability and box defending, as well as his technical ability, but that is no longer the case, to put it briefly. I think he’s Serie A’s best defender.
Fikayo Tomori stands out as a very aggressive defender, and he always has, but he isn’t necessarily someone who stands out just because he wins the ball a lot. In terms of output he has been that so far in his career, but unlike someone like Pierre Kalulu — who I previously believed to be better than Tomori — I think Tomori is a much more complete, and modern defender nowadays. Tomori doesn’t need to constantly rush up the pitch and win the ball to stand out, that’s just how he’s being used at Milan. Not only does Tomori win the ball in high volumes, but he’s also extremely efficient in his duel-winning, which is despite Milan’s current environment being extremely demanding of him. Every once in a while, we will see an attacker get the best of Tomori, but that should not be held against him, because it’s quite miraculous that it doesn’t happen more often. There are multiple reasons why Tomori is constantly exposed, from Milan’s lack of a defensive midfielder in Bennacer’s absence (through injury), to Stefano Pioli’s press, of which the less is said, the better. In a different tactical setup, we could see Tomori as a defender who mainly stands out for his defensive reliability. When necessary, his incredible combination of defensive fundamentals, speed, strength, and athleticism will help him dominate attackers, while his box defending has also improved drastically. Tomori is a natural and complete defender, who is not only a constant obstacle for the opposition, but also someone who can come up with decisive actions. The only real flaw in Tomori’s defending nowadays is his aerial ability, which has gone from bad to underwhelming, and has become an increasingly inconsequential issue.
Previously in this ranking I described two different types of defenders, and while Tomori seems like he fits the mould of a more duel-heavy defender, I think he might just be the defender who best fits the other mould I described, it’s just hard to see that in his current environment. The key in defending nowadays seems to be a combination of defensive fundamentals, physique, and comfortability, with the last factor being the x-factor. It can be described in many other ways: effortlessness, elegance, composure, efficiency, etc, and while Tomori stands out for his ruthless ball-winning, when you take a closer look at his game, you start to see this composed aspect of his game a lot more. I don’t think he is the most technical player in the world, but he’s consistently comfortable with the ball, doesn’t waste his touches, and honestly I think his overall ball-retention is fantastic, and not at the cost of a glaring lack of progressiveness. As a new manager should be set to take over Milan in the coming year, I think this part of Tomori’s game in particular will shine through more, and it might not be long until he’s regarded as one of the best defenders in the world.
8. Theo Hernández (Milan)
In terms of his performances, Theo Hernández has unequivocally dropped off since 2021–22, which has raised some doubts about how good he really is. However, I believe he struggles to reach his potential for the same reasons Tijjani Reijnders does.
Like Tijjani Reijnders, Theo Hernández is clearly an extremely technical player, who has an unfortunate tendency of being wasteful in possession. I think this is largely for the same reasons as Tijjani Reijnders struggles in possession, and I don’t have much to add to that. However, I do think Theo has a more inherent issue in possession, which comes from a lack of ambidexterity, and a subsequently limited turning radius. Theo is not inefficient due to this, but rather due to unsuccessful progressive actions, however even in a different environment I don’t think he would be close to as technically secure as someone like Giovanni Di Lorenzo. His incredible ball-carrying makes up for that in a way, but this is worth pointing out nonetheless. I think Theo would clearly be an elite full-back under different tactical circumstances, but it’s naive to argue that he doesn’t have inherent flaws as well.
On another topic, Theo’s end product has also regressed since the beginning of last season, and I think he’s shown more than enough in the final third to prove that this is caused by external factors. Where he has instead been truly underwhelming is in his defending, which was a serious strength of his in 2021–22, but has been increasingly shaky since then. It’s fair to accept this defensive season as an anomaly, and I don’t think Theo has changed too much as a player in recent years — he still has some minor issues, but due to his upside he is easily one of the best full-backs on the planet.
7. Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
Lautaro Martínez is having nothing short of a phenomenal season, but while his underlying numbers are actually down from last year, and while his current rate of goal contribution is by no means sustainable, it feels like karma for a lot of the unfair criticism Lautaro has been on the end of in recent years. There are better players out there, sure, but there certainly aren’t many of them, and I really do think Lautaro deserves his flowers.
The one caveat I will start off with, is that I think Lautaro does benefit from playing in a two-striker formation, similarly to Marcus Thuram, and more notably Romelu Lukaku. Even then, though, I think this role only makes Lautaro more dangerous, rather than it masking his flaws. Lautaro is a complete, modern striker. His finishing is excellent — despite what the 2022 World Cup may imply — and Lautaro is a natural, clinical finisher in a wide array of situations, from volleys, to tough angles, to headers. Furthermore Lautaro is a more technical striker than he’s given credit for, excelling in link-up play. Aside from that, a less sexy quality of Lautaro’s which should definitely be acknowledge, is his fantastic defensive contribution, which is about as good as it gets. Ultimately I do think Lautaro is less of a box threat as a lone number 9, largely due to his size, but in any case I think it’s time we start acknowledging him as one of the best forwards in the world.
6. Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
It is true that Manuel Locatelli has not performed at an extremely high level since signing for Juventus. The argument from those who have defended him has been that this is a tactical issue, and that Locatelli is still completely capable of what he did at Sassuolo, prior to joining Juve. The argument that Locatelli would be great under a different manager was a hypothetical one, and therefore it’s not completely unreasonable that it was doubted by some. However, I think anyone who has seen Locatelli play with the Italian national team since the appointment of Luciano Spalletti, should have no doubts about what Locatelli is capable of.
Manuel Locatelli is by far Juventus’ best player, and it’s largely thanks to Roberto De Zerbi’s coaching while Locatelli was at Sassuolo. He has quite a large frame — definitely compared to the likes of Ismaël Bennacer and Stanislav Lobotka, but in terms of technical ability he’s arguably even better than the both of them. For one, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to claim that Locatelli is one of the very best passers on the planet. He’s somehow very press-resistant and efficient with the ball despite having an unbelievable passing range — there’s not much more you could ask from Locatelli in buildup. Sure, he’s never been an exceptional ball-carrier, but with how press-resistant and gifted of a passer he is, he hasn’t really needed to be either.
While most of this has not been seen too consistently at Juventus, Locatelli’s defensive solidity has, to a greater extent, which is ironic because he is not nearly as strong in this department as he is in possession. Nonetheless, Locatelli has been a strong defensive anchor for a few years now, but as a lone 6 in a possession-based team he is still quite defensively unproven, and that is not a simple adaptation to make. Theoretically, Locatelli could develop one of the best midfielders in the world if he were to change environment, but given he recently signed a contract extension, that seems highly unlikely. Even then, I think Manuel Locatelli is Serie A’s best midfielder.
5. Luis Alberto (Lazio)
I’ve been a personal fan of Luis Alberto for a couple of years, but as he’s had an unstable relationship with Maurizio Sarri, and as he’s played in a lackluster team, I haven’t been sure how good he is for a long time. At this point — even though he’s considered to be way past his prime — I think Alberto is Serie A’s best midfielder.
“El mago”, or “the magician” in English, is a very generic nickname, but for Luis Alberto it completely fits. In a team that is frankly defined by mediocrity, it’s so refreshing to see someone who can dominate two thirds of the pitch, and do so in beautiful fashion too. A true number 8, Luis Alberto is heavily involved in the middle third, where he functions as a metronome, both retaining possession of the ball and progressing it at an exceptional level. His close control is magnificent, he’s fantastic at carrying the ball, and his passing range is world class. His class carries onto the final third as well, where he’s an exceptional creator and fringe goal threat, even in a highly uninspiring team. Luis Alberto would not look out of place in any team in the world.
4. Mike Maignan (Milan)
The stats imply that Mike Maignan has become increasingly unreliable since his most recent long-term injury, but as someone who watches Maignan every single week, I don’t quite see it. He has made some errors here and there this year, but he is ultimately a goalkeeper who has been performing at an extremely high level for over five years now, although he didn’t quite get the recognition until his move to Milan. Fundamentally, he still looks like a bonafide world class goalkeeper, whose freakish style of play sees him commit errors every now and then, but who is about as complete as any other goalkeeper in the world. “Freakish” is the key word, as Maignan is an unbelievable athlete, from his sweeping, to his cross-claiming, to the incredible saves he pulls off. On top of that, Maignan is one of the more technical goalkeepers on the talent too. World class.
3. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
I don’t think it’s unfair to claim that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is having a worse season compared to last year, but regardless I definitely think he’s grown as a player since then. His numbers last year were slightly deflated by a collective slump for Napoli towards the end of the season, but although his end product has been worse due to poor finishing, this shouldn’t last, and he feels like a more complete player.
Continuing on the note of finishing, Kvaratskhelia comes off as a very natural one, and is an excellent ball-striker, which implies that not only is an underperformance unsustainable, but a long-term overperformance might be sustainable. On top of that, I think Kvaratskhelia feels like a more complete final third threat, and he’s been particularly dangerous as a goal threat. Last year I wasn’t particularly impressed with his movement off the ball, but rather felt as though his goal-scoring form was a product of great finishing and great play from Napoli overall, but this season he’s getting into positions he wasn’t getting into last year. His creative numbers are down, but that can be explained by Napoli’s clear tactical regression. Otherwise, Kvaratskhelia is more efficient in possession, as he’s a more consistent dribbler and as he has been more protective of the ball. Kvaratskhelia can do it all, and last season was no fluke at all; he is a world class player, and I only use that term when I know it’s true.
2. Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Victor Osimhen is a player who has outright looked a lot worse than he did last season, and while last year might have been an overperformance, I think all he needed to do was stay somewhat healthy to show how good he is. He is an odd player, as his output portrays him as a very one-dimensional player, yet he clearly has some technical brilliance in him, which his unbelievable assist against Cagliari last weekend exemplifies (by now you’ve definitely seen it, but please watch the linked video to see the best angle of it, in response to those claiming it was merely “bad defending”). Nonetheless, for now I think this is more of a fringe quality of his, and being a one-dimensional player doesn’t have to be a problem. His movement off the ball is phenomenal, and he’s an incredible athlete. The result is lots and lots of goals. On top of that, it is worth adding that Osimhen is also quite good in the press, and is capable of being a more dynamic forward, but the main thing he brings is goals, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In the box, there are only a few players in the world who are more dangerous than Victor Osimhen.
1. Rafael Leão (Milan)
For me it’s incredibly difficult to write concisely about Rafael Leão, because not only is he very special right now, but if you give him some time in a different environment, he can reach a completely different level, and there are many reasons for this. Reducing his game to excellent dribbling ball-carrying, off-ball movement, and creativity does not do Leão’s talent justice, but that is the short explanation, I suppose. Still, what really makes Leão so special is that he’s such a quick and technical player, despite also being so big and strong. The fact that he has been so good at Milan is almost counterintuitive when it comes to how many regard Leão, because his performances are at such a high level that it hides the fact that he could be so much better in a different team. It simply shouldn’t be possible for a player of Leão’s size and qualities in the box to be capable of producing such moments of magic outside of the box. There are a few players on this planet who take on defenders with ease, and who can produce moments of genius a couple times every match, but Rafael Leão is faster, stronger and more decisive than all of them. There are still some rough edges to Rafael Leão’s game, and once those are ironed out, we will be talking about a player who is about as good as anyone else on this planet.
