The Italian New Wave : the new generation of Italian footballers
I
talians have always struggled to get to grips with the physicality and pace of England ’ s top division , a statement backed up by the fact that only one ( Mario Balotelli ) has ever lifted the Premier League trophy . This reputation not only limits their success , but also harms their global brand and visibility , not just of the football team but also of Italy more generally .
There is hope however , as a new wave of young Italian footballers are finally breaking through in some of the League ’ s top teams . The real question is , will they triumph where previous generations failed ? Do they have the qualities necessary to succeed in arguably the strongest league in world football ?
Intensity
Sandro Tonali , 24 , joined upwardly mobile Newcastle United in the summer of 2023 for a record fee for an Italian player ; the Lombardo represented a new era for the Magpies , having left Champions League royalty AC Milan to join a side who were by no means guaranteed European football . Tonali embodies the modern game , much more robust , athletic and combative than the stereotypical Italian midfielder . Perhaps most intriguingly , Tonali is seen as an integral part of Newcastle ’ s midfield going forward , forming the beating heart of a team who pride themselves on high intensity and counterpressing .
Similarly , Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario have been crucial to Tottenham Hotspurs ’ progression under their new manager Ange Postecoglou , a manager even more demanding than Eddie Howe at Newcastle . Tottenham ’ s 6,534 sprints across the 2023 / 24 season , 300 clear of second-place Bournemouth , illustrates this well .
Athleticism and diligence ( or ‘ playing for the badge ’ as it is known in England ) are so desirable in today ’ s game , and for a long time , Italian players were overlooked , due to a perception , be it fact or fiction , that Italian coaches , or maybe Italian footballing culture , placed much more of an emphasis on technical rather than on athletic ability . Finally there appears to have been a breakthrough , and Italy has begun to produce the talent that England ’ s top division demands . That being said , while Newcastle and Spurs are clearly both exciting and progressive teams , they are not tipped to win trophies in the immediate future , and the profiles of their Italian prospects only highlight a single quality of the new generation of azzurri . There is another section of calciatore who have recently been recruited by top teams that are much closer to silverware .
Trophies
Chiesa was once seen as a Ballon d ’ Or winner , a future Italian football great , but injuries have derailed his career and he left Juventus without much fanfare . Liverpool decided to take a chance on him , despite their depth in attack , as they believed in his footballing abilities and the value he would be able to add to a squad already brimming with quality . Similarly , Calafiori made the switch to Arsenal this summer following an outstanding season with Bologna and an impressive Euro ’ s campaign , and according to reports , it was Arteta who pushed for his signing , despite a plethora of defenders already at his disposal .
Both Arsenal and Liverpool , two teams who battled for the Premier League last season , turned to Italy , to Serie A , and more specifically to Italians to bolster their rosters . Surely this marks a step forwards ? Maybe , finally , Italian football is catching up to modern trends ( athleticism and intensity ), and at the same time retaining and refining its technicality , a combination prized by top teams across the globe .
The players highlighted in this article are by no means old , and many of them have their best years ahead of them . Could they be the ones to make their mark in England ’ s top flight , and elevate their nation in the minds of global football fans to where it belongs ? In doing so , they would finally shed Italy ’ s ‘ light-weight ’ reputation which has overshadowed not only their success at international tournaments , but also the global perception of the Mediterranean nation .
By Dylan Webster-Deakin ( He / Him ) // Final Year ; Italian and French
Destiny Udogie ( right ) tackling opponent Source : Instagram @ udogiethree Page 60