Andrea Barzagli has named 5 younger Italy defenders who could be of curiosity to CT Gennaro Gattuso within the close to future, however who’re the Azzurri hopefuls and when may they make an influence within the nationwide crew set-up?
Barzagli has not too long ago taken up the function because the assistant to Silvio Baldini inside the Italy U21 group.
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Barzagli names 5 younger Italy defenders to regulate
Talking in a current interview with , the previous Italy and Juventus legend within the close to future.
Amongst them is Giovanni Leoni, who accomplished a transfer to hitch Premier League champions Liverpool from Parma in the course of the summer time switch window.
Giovanni Leoni indicators his Liverpool contract (liverpoolfc.com)
Although he’s the youngest of the defenders talked about by Barzagli, he has already earned his first call-up to the Italy nationwide crew, though it stays to be seen how a lot of a task he will likely be given inside the first-team set-up at Liverpool.
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The 18-year-old has loved a fast rise to fame during the last calendar yr. He solely made his Serie A debut final November, and solely turned a daily within the Parma aspect in the course of the second half of the 2025-26 season.
He went on to play an essential function in serving to Parma safe Serie A security final season, and can now practice alongside the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate each day at Liverpool.
EMPOLI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 8: Luca Marianucci of Empoli FC reacts and Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan in the course of the Serie A match between Empoli and AC Milan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on February 8, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Picture by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Pictures)
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One other defender who Barzagli thinks is value keeping track of is Napoli’s Luca Marianucci, who joined Antonio Conte’s aspect from Empoli originally of the summer time switch window.
The 21-year-old made 18 appearances in Serie A final time period, and is able to enjoying in both a again three or a again 4, often because the left-most of the centre-backs given that he’s a left-footer.
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – APRIL 12: Fabio Chiarodia of Borussia Mönchengladbach appears on in the course of the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Sport-Membership Freiburg at Borussia-Park on April 12, 2025 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Picture by Pau Barrena/Getty Pictures)
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Two of the younger Italy defenders Barzagli has tipped are at the moment plying their commerce within the Bundesliga. One among them is Fabio Chiarodia, who was born and raised in Germany to Italian dad and mom.
Chiarodia got here by means of the youth ranks at Werder Bremen, and accomplished a everlasting switch to Borussia Monchengladbach in the summertime of 2023. He made 16 top-flight appearances with Die Borussen in 2024-25, and has appeared in each of the membership’s first two Bundesliga matches this marketing campaign as properly.
Filippo Mane can be within the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund as issues stand. The 20-year-old got here by means of the youth ranks of Novara and Sampdoria earlier than transferring to Dortmund as an adolescent in 2022.
HAMBURG, GERMANY – AUGUST 23: Filippo Mane of Borussia Dortmund receives a purple card from referee Matthias Jollenbeck in the course of the Bundesliga match between FC St. Pauli and Borussia Dortmund at Millerntor Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. (Picture by Stuart Franklin/Getty Pictures)
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He was named as a starter for Dortmund’s opening Bundesliga match of the 2025-26 season, however remains to be serving a suspension following a late purple card in a 3-3 draw with St. Pauli.
Lastly, Barzagli feels that it’s value keeping track of Gabriele Guarino, who’s at the moment enjoying in Serie B with Empoli.
SAN MARINO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gabriele Guarino of Italy U21 in motion in the course of the UEFA Under21 Euro Qualifier match between San Marino U21 and Italy U21 at Serravalle on November 16, 2023 in San Marino, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Pictures)
He spent the 2024-25 season on mortgage in Serie B with Carrarese, and is ready to go once more within the second flight following Empoli’s relegation from Serie A on the finish of final season.
To this point, he has come on as an alternative in a single league match, and in addition performed the total 90 minutes of an eventual penalty shoot-out victory in opposition to Reggiana within the first spherical of the Coppa Italia.