Andrea Barzagli, the former Italy and Juventus defender, has spotlighted several promising young Italian defenders who he believes have bright futures ahead. As the new assistant coach for Italy`s Under-21 team, Barzagli is well-positioned to assess upcoming talent.
Among the defenders Barzagli highlighted are:
- Giovanni Leoni – Recently signed by Liverpool from Parma
- Luca Marianucci – New Napoli signing from Empoli
- Fabio Chiarodia – Described as very talented but still developing
- Filippo Mane
- Gabriele Guarino
Barzagli praised these young defenders for their physical attributes, focus, and involvement in the game. He specifically noted Marianucci`s strong presence on the pitch and good left foot.
Drawing from his own experience as one of Italy`s top defenders in recent years, Barzagli offered some insight into the challenging nature of the center-back position. He emphasized that it`s a role where players learn and improve primarily through making and learning from mistakes during actual matches.
“It`s an unforgiving position,” Barzagli explained. “You grow significantly when you make errors. You understand the mistake and avoid falling into the same trap again. Your ability to read the game improves, which is something you can really only learn through match experience.”
Barzagli also highlighted Italy`s strong tradition of producing quality defenders, noting that even those who show promise at a young age tend to improve further with experience.
As these young defenders continue to develop, Italian football fans will be eager to see if they can live up to Barzagli`s high expectations and potentially form the backbone of future national teams.