10 Rising Defensive Stars Making Waves in Serie A

Serie A, renowned as one of the top football leagues globally, has long been a hotbed for exceptional talent, especially in defense.

As the league progresses, a fresh wave of young defenders is stepping up, demonstrating their abilities and leaving a mark on the pitch. In this article, we will explore the careers and qualities of ten up-and-coming defensive talents, aged 17 to 24, who are set to become the future cornerstones of Serie A.

These players, with their remarkable skills and potential for greatness, are definitely ones to watch as they continue to make an impact in Italian football.

1. Matteo Lovato

Matteo Lovato is a young Italian center-back with a promising future. Currently playing for Sassuolo in Serie A, Lovato has established himself as a reliable and consistent defender. His strengths lie in his aerial ability, positional awareness, and solid tackling.

Lovato’s composed demeanor on the pitch makes him a dependable figure in Sassuolo’s defensive setup. However, he has some areas that need improvement. Lovato can struggle with pace in one-on-one situations, and he needs to develop a more aggressive pressing style and contribute more offensively.

Despite these areas for growth, Lovato’s potential is evident, and with continued development, he could become a standout star.

For now, he remains a key part of Sassuolo’s defense, utilizing his strengths to effectively contribute to the team’s performance. As he gains experience and hones his skills, Lovato’s future in football looks bright.

2. Saba Goglichidze

Saba Goglichidze is a talented young Georgian center-back currently playing for FC Empoli in Serie A. At just 20 years old, he has already made a name for himself with his impressive defensive skills.

Standing at 1.92 meters, Goglichidze is strong in aerial duels and has good positional awareness as reported by Transfermarkt. He has been a consistent performer for Empoli since joining the club in January 2024.

Goglichidze has represented the Georgian national team and has shown his potential on the international stage as well.

While he is still developing and has areas to improve, such as his pace in one-on-one situations and offensive contributions, his current performance indicates a bright future ahead. With continued growth and experience, Goglichidze could become a standout defender in European football.

Read More: 10 Rising Defensive Talents Shining in the Bundesliga

3. Cas Odenthal

Cas Odenthal is a promising young Dutch center-back currently playing for Sassuolo in Serie B. At 23 years old, he has already shown his potential with impressive performances.

Standing at 1.90 meters, Odenthal is strong in aerial duels and has good positional awareness. He joined Sassuolo in July 2024 and has quickly become a key part of their defensive setup.

Odenthal has also represented the Netherlands at the U16 level, showcasing his talent early on.

While he is still developing and has areas to improve, such as his pace in one-on-one situations and offensive contributions, his current performance indicates a bright future ahead. With continued growth and experience, Odenthal could become a standout defender in European football.

4. Lorenzo Pirola

Lorenzo Pirola is an Italian center-back recognized for his promising potential and solid defensive capabilities. Currently playing for Olympiacos, Pirola is noted for his strengths in tackling, aerial duels, and anticipation.

His athleticism and good reading of the game make him a formidable presence on the pitch, where he consistently demonstrates defensive solidity and composure.

At Olympiacos, Pirola has quickly become an integral part of the team’s defensive setup, earning praise for his strong performances in interceptions and aerial battles. His ability to read the game effectively and his athletic prowess further enhance his reputation as a reliable and promising defender.

Despite his young age, Pirola’s potential for further development is evident. With continued experience and growth, he is poised to become a standout star in European football. As he hones his skills and gains more exposure, Pirola’s future in the sport looks incredibly bright.

Read More: 10 Promising Defensive Stars Rising in Ligue 1

5. Patrick Dorgu

Patrick Dorgu is a talented young Danish defender currently playing for Lecce in Serie A. At just 20 years old, he has already made a significant impact on the team.

Standing at 1.85 meters, Dorgu is known for his strong defensive skills, particularly in ground duels and aerial battles. He has been a consistent performer for Lecce, contributing three goals and one assist in 22 appearances across all competitions this season.

Dorgu’s impressive performances have caught the attention of top clubs, including Manchester United, who are reportedly in advanced talks to sign him. His versatility allows him to play both as a left-back and a right-back, making him a valuable asset for any team. Additionally, Dorgu has represented the Danish national team, earning four caps and scoring one goal.

While he is still developing and has areas to improve, such as his pace in one-on-one situations and defensive positioning, Dorgu’s potential is evident. With continued growth and experience, he could become a standout defender in European football.

6. Nikola Kristovic

Nikola Kristovic is a Montenegrin forward currently playing for Lecce in Serie A. At 24 years old, he has already made a significant impact in Italian football.

Standing at 1.85 meters, Kristovic is known for his goal-scoring ability and versatility on the field. He has scored 6 goals in 21 Serie A appearances this season, showcasing his effectiveness in front of goal.

Kristovic’s strengths include his powerful shots, aerial presence, and ability to create scoring opportunities. He has a high goal involvement rate, contributing to his team’s offense consistently. His performance has earned him a spot in the Montenegrin national team, where he has scored 3 goals in 6 appearances.

While Kristovic is still developing and has areas to improve, such as his consistency and defensive contributions, his potential is evident. With continued growth and experience, he could become a standout forward in European football.

7. Pietro Comuzzo

Pietro Comuzzo is a young Italian center-back making waves at Fiorentina. At just 19 years old, he has already shown immense potential with his accurate passing, solid tackling, and strong aerial ability. Comuzzo’s composure on the pitch is remarkable for his age, and his good reading of the game makes him a reliable defender.

Since joining Serie A side Fiorentina in 2023, Comuzzo has become a key part of their defensive setup. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with top clubs like Napoli and Manchester United showing interest in him. Despite his youth, Comuzzo has already received recognition at the youth international level and is gaining significant playing time in Serie A.

While he still needs to develop his physical strength to match more experienced attackers, Comuzzo’s progress suggests a bright future. With continued growth and experience, he could become a standout star in Italian football.

8. Raoul Bellanova

Raoul Bellanova is a promising young right-back currently playing for Atalanta in Serie A. Known for his strong attacking capabilities, Bellanova excels with his excellent pace and crossing ability.

His ability to create chances with his attacking play makes him a valuable asset to his team. Bellanova’s strengths also include strong dribbling skills, allowing him to effectively overlap and deliver crosses into the box.

However, Bellanova does have areas for improvement. He can sometimes be defensively inconsistent, and his positional awareness needs refinement.

Additionally, his tackling ability may require further development to become a more complete fullback. Despite these weaknesses, Bellanova’s potential is evident, and with continued growth and experience, he could become a standout player.

Overall, Bellanova is regarded as a decent to good player with the potential to develop further. His attacking prowess and ability to create opportunities make him a valuable asset to Atalanta’s squad.

9. Giorgio Scalvini

Giorgio Scalvini is a highly promising young center-back who has garnered attention for his well-rounded abilities and modern approach to defending.

Playing for Atalanta in Serie A, Scalvini combines strong defensive qualities with excellent ball-playing skills, making him a complete defender. He is particularly praised for his aerial dominance, composure on the ball, and tactical awareness.

His key strengths include a formidable physical presence, consistently winning aerial duels, and demonstrating good body strength.

Technically, Scalvini is comfortable on the ball with a good passing range and the ability to play through pressure. His tactical understanding is also exceptional, with excellent positional sense, the ability to read the game well, and making timely tackles.

Versatile in his positioning, Scalvini can play as both a right-sided and left-sided center-back. Widely viewed as one of the most exciting young defenders in European football, many experts predict a bright future for him at the top level.

10. Michael Kayode

Michael Kayode is quickly becoming a standout player in Serie A, currently serving as a right-back for Fiorentina. His recent performances have shown considerable promise, marking him as one of the young talents to keep an eye on.

At just 19 years old, Kayode has displayed impressive speed and attacking prowess from the fullback position, effectively contributing to both Fiorentina’s offensive and defensive strategies. His strong defensive skills, combined with his ability to support the attack, have established him as a vital player for Fiorentina.

Kayode’s performances have not only secured him regular playing time but have also drawn interest from other European clubs, underscoring his growing reputation.

Having made his Serie A debut this season, it’s clear that Kayode has significant potential for further development as he continues to gain experience and hone his skills on the field.

With his bright prospects and steady performances, Kayode is set for a promising future in football, and many believe he has ample room for growth.