Dominating the midfield and being linked to the team’s attack and defense is a complex role that demands the most from even the best midfielders defenders in Italy.
Against this backdrop, our mission here is to introduce you to these players who have been doing their jobs very well and leading their teams to the elite of European soccer!
Here’s a look at the best midfielders in Italy, their careers, titles and careers.
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TOP 10 stars: the best midfielders defenders in Italy
On the list, the best midfielders defenders in Italy are:
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Internazionale)
- Youssouf Fofana (Milan)
- Samuele Ricci (Torino)
- Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
- Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli)
- Bryan Cristante (Roma)
- Nicolò Rovella (Juventus)
- Kristjan Asllani (Internazionale)
- Billy Gilmour (Napoli)
- Ismaël Bennacer (Milan)
Read on to find out about the careers and titles of each of Italy’s best midfielders today.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Internazionale)
Voted Seria A’s best midfielder of 2023/24, Çalhanoğlu began his professional career at Karlsruher SC in Germany before moving to Hamburg and then Bayer Leverkusen, the team he played for in the Bundesliga from 2014 to 2017, the year he joined Milan.
Yes, the biggest rival of his current team was the first Italian team of Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s career, and he stayed there for four seasons.
In 2021, Çalhanoğlu moved to Internazionale, where he played as a midfielder, quickly consolidating his position in the team and becoming one of the best midfielders in Italy.
Known for his dead-ball ability and vision, Çalhanoğlu contributes to the organization of the team, offers defensive and offensive support and ensures a balance in central midfield.
Titles for Internazionale
- Italian Cup: 2021-22 and 2022-23
- Italian Super Cup: 2021, 2022 and 2023
- Serie A Italian Championship: 2023-24
Youssouf Fofana (Milan)
Frenchman Youssouf Fofana began his professional career at Strasbourg, where he impressed with his intensity and tackling skills, so much so that in 2023 he was signed directly by one of the biggest soccer teams in the world: AC Milan.
In the Italian team, the star has continued his rise, especially due to his defensive ability and his dynamism in midfield, capable of assisting in the construction of plays and marking opponents efficiently.
These are undoubtedly characteristics that make him one of the best midfielders in Italy today.
Samuele Ricci (Torino)
One of those responsible for leading Empoli back to Serie A, Ricci began his career at the club, where he was recognized for his vision and ball control.
With his success in the 2020/21 season, Ricci was signed by Torino and further developed his tactical intelligence, becoming one of the team’s main names for the distribution of play.
At just 23, and already among Italy’s Best Midfielders, the star has the potential to become one of the greatest midfielders in Italian history,
Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
A graduate of Milan’s youth academy, where he played until 2019, Locatelli had a breakthrough season with Sassuolo before moving on to Juventus.
His arrival at the Turin club consolidated his position as one of Italy’s best midfielders, with characteristics such as high technical level and wide versatility, combining passing ability and defensive strength.
At Juventus, Locatelli became one of the mainstays of the midfield, playing a big part in important games. His ability to mark and get forward with the ball makes him a valuable part of the team.
Titles for Juventus:
- Italian Cup: 2021-22
- Italian Super Cup: 2021
Read also: TOP 10 Best midfielders in Italy this season! Updated list
Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli)
Lobotka began his international career with Celta de Vigo in Spain in 2017. Just three seasons later, in 2020, he was bought by Napoli, who were interested in the midfielder’s defensive skills and vision.
The star quickly became one of the team’s key players, contributing directly to their winning of the Serie A title in 2022/23.
One of Italy’s best midfielders, he plays a key role in protecting the defense and organizing transitions.
Titles for Napoli:
- Italian Cup: 2019-20
- Serie A: 2022-23
Bryan Cristante (Roma)
Cristante began his career at AC Milan, but moved on to teams like AC Milan and Benfica, where he really began to shine and established himself as one of Europe’s great midfielders.
In 2018, he joined Roma, where he stood out as a technical and reliable midfielder, as well as being a versatile player capable of playing in several positions.
In the team since 2018, Cristante has the trust of the team and the fans, and is undoubtedly one of the pillars of the team’s midfield.
Titles for Roma:
- UEFA Europa Conference League: 2021-22
Nicolò Rovella (Lazio)
Rovella began his career at Genoa and quickly caught the eye of big clubs for his quality and control in midfield.
He was then signed by Juventus, who saw in him the potential to become one of Italy’s best midfielders.
He is currently on loan at Lazio, where he has shown great tackling skills and vision, characteristics that make him a promising midfield prospect for the team and the Italian national team.
Kristjan Asllani (Internazionale)
Asllani came through the ranks at Empoli, where he stood out for his ability to control the game and pass accurately. With these attributes, in 2022 he was signed by Internazionale, one of the biggest teams in Italy, where he quickly established himself as one of the best midfielders in Italy.
The star combines great defensive and offensive skills, and supports both in marking and in creating attacking moves, being an important piece for the team, regardless of the match situation.
Without a doubt, he’s the kind of player who deserves all our attention during a soccer match!
Titles for Empoli
Serie B Italian Championship: 2020-21
Titles for Internazionale
- Italian Cup: 2022-23
- Italian Super Cup: 2022, 2023
- Serie A Italian Championship: 2023-24
Billy Gilmour (Napoli)
Gilmour began his career with Rangers in Scotland and then moved to Chelsea, where he won the Champions League in 2020/21.
At the English club, the star was able to show off his passing and reading skills, and was loaned out to Norwich City before joining Napoli.
At the Italian side, he soon became one of the big names in the midfield, key to playmaking and defensive support.
For the coming seasons, we hope to see even more of this star who is now shining in Italian soccer.
Ismaël Bennacer (Milan)
Revealed by Arles-Avignon, a team from his native Algeria, he played for the team between 2014 and 2015, the year in which he arrived at Arsenal, one of the biggest teams in England.
However, it’s in Italy, with Empoli and now Milan, that he’s been showing his real talent.
Since his arrival at Milan, Bennacer has established himself as one of Italy’s best midfielders this season, with his interception and ball distribution skills standing out.
Milan titles
- Italian league: 2021-22
Now you have a list of the 10 best midfielders in Italy today, and you can understand why the country’s soccer is one of the most watched in the world.
With great stars, the Italian league and the country’s teams remain among the elite of football.
Continue reading about the Italian league at:
- 9 Best goalkeepers in Italy today: teams, titles and careers
- 10 Best defenders in Italy today: careers and titles
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