Ciro Immobile can’t believe he’s not in the squad alongside Gleison Bremer.
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AC Milan won their first title in 11 years, leaving their rivals to mourn as they partied in the Piazza del Duomo. But who were the best players in Serie A this season? Let’s take a look at our Team of the Season, with the caveat that we’ve only allowed one player from each club to keep things interesting.
Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
It couldn’t really be anyone else, could it? Stepping in to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma should have been a difficult task, but Maignan did it seamlessly after his €15m ($16.06m) move from Lille last summer.
He’s kept 17 clean sheets in 32 Serie A appearances and – according to this report – finished the campaign with the highest save percentage (79.4%) of any goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues.
Right-back: Petar Stojanovic (Empoli)
A surprising name for many, but the 26-year-old has been excellent on the right flank all season. According WhoScored.com he created 1.1 scoring chances per 90 minutes, while averaging 3.2 tackles and 1.0 interceptions to put himself on the radar of Serie A’s biggest clubs.
Central defence: Gleison Bremer (Turin)
The hottest defender on the transfer market this summer, Bremer has exploded this season with consistently brilliant performances at the heart of Granata’s backline that have seen him named Serie A’s best defender.
Signed for just 5.8 million euros ($6.2 million) in 2018, his play has been so good that many reports expect a move for him this offseason to cost potential suitors up to 45 million euros ($48.13 million).
Central defence: Khalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)
While there’s no doubt the Milan duo of Fiyako Tomori and Pierre Kalulu deserve a mention here for their stellar play, the one-player-per-team limit pushed other names to the fore, and Koulibaly was back. at his best this season after struggling somewhat. last term.
Now almost 31, he played a key role in helping the Partenopei concede Serie A’s best 31 goals this term, but has spent much of the past month deflecting questions about his future. The Senegal star is out of contract in June 2023 and Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has already admitted he cannot force a player to stay with the club if they want to leave.
Left-back: Destiny Udogie (Udinese)
Theo Hernandez was clearly a standout performer in the position, but Udogie was also impressive for a Udinese side that were easy to overlook that term. The 19-year-old has registered five goals and four assists while looking solid defensively, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Zebrettes making a big profit on a player who cost them just €5m (5. $35 million).
Central midfielder: Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lazio)
Speaking of players who could be sold for a huge profit this summer, could this finally be the year Lazio cash in on a 27-year-old they signed for less than €10m (10.07 millions of dollars)?
According to numerous reports, this is indeed the case, with some of Europe’s biggest clubs turning after Maurizio Sarri brought Milinković-Savić back to peak form, with 11 goals and 11 assists.
Central midfielder: Lucas Torreira (Fiorentina)
Marcelo Brozovic was key to Inter’s midfield, but the same can be said for the former Arsenal man who epitomizes everything Vincenzo Italiano brought to Fiorentina. He ended the season with five goals and one assist, but it was his stubborn, fierce and relentless style that won over La Viola supporters.
Central midfielder: Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
Adjusting immediately to life with the Turin giants, Manuel Locatelli clearly enjoyed representing the team he supported as a child and he brought much-needed energy to a previously stale Juve midfield.
With Dusan Vlahovic, Federico Chiesa and Matthijs de Ligt, he is a player who gives hope for the future of the Old Lady after a disappointing campaign which was discussed in detail in this previous column.
Right winger: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
Another excellent season with the Neroverdi for Berardi, who netted an impressive 15 goals and double figures in assists too, he provided a consistent threat down the right flank as well as from set pieces.
Attacker: Tammy Abraham (AS Roma)
Ciro Immobile, the Fiorentina version of Dusan Vlahovic, and of course Victor Osimhen could all have taken that spot, but instead it’s Abraham who he returns to for a wonderful debut campaign on the peninsula.
Seventeen league goals – including two against bitter rivals Lazio – endeared him to the Giallorossi and UEFA faithful
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Left winger: Ivan Perisic (Inter)
Rafael Leao undoubtedly deserves the spot, but the one-man-per-team rule sees it instead go to Ivan Perisic, who was arguably this season’s star man for Inter. Relentlessly holding the left flank, the Croatian netted eight times and provided seven assists while operating primarily as a full-back, and it’s unthinkable he could leave the Nerazzurri this summer.
