3. Elif Elmas – Napoli
It’s safe to say that Napoli’s summer transfer window has somewhat gone under the radar, especially compared to Juventus’ and Inter’s big-money transfers. One player stood up from all the others that Napoli have acquired this summer, Macedonian super-talent Elis Elmas.
With Amadou Diawara moving to Roma and Marko Rog on the verge of joining Cagliari, the 19-year-old Macedonian is expected to get enough chances to prove his worth, so plenty will be expected from him.
Arguably Elmas’ strongest quality is his ability to steal the ball from the opposition and bring it up the pitch, either with some neat dribbling or a sharp pass. The teenager’s supreme technical ability and ball control also make him very effective in tight areas and in more advanced positions.
The 19-year-old’s passing range is also very impressive, as despite his tender age, the Macedonain international has a very good reading of the game. This allows him to move the ball efficiently enough, as highlighted by the 84% pass success rate in the Turkish Super League last term. The Fenerbahce starlet also averaged 1.6 shots per game for the Turkish giants, but in all honesty you don’t need to look at the stats to see what type of player Elmas is, as just simply watching him play is enough in most cases.
The biggest challenges in front of Elmas would be to improve his fitness and find his best position on the pitch, but having a mentor like Ancelotti should do wonders for the wonderkid, as the coach knows how to shape rough diamonds and that’s exactly what Elmas is.
2. Mario Balotelli – Brescia
A suspension carried over from the tempestuous end of his short Marseille attachment means that Balotelli’s homecoming to promoted Brescia will be delayed until well into next month. But such is the fanfare that surrounds Super Mario, only those of cold heart and dimmed imagination cannot be galvanized about the enticing prospect of what could come.
An unfulfilled search for meaning has, seemingly, defined Balotelli’s mercurial career. This gifted attacker has flittered through both Milan clubs, Manchester City, Liverpool and the Cote d’Azur’s Nice and Marseille. Indelible impressions were often only left off the pitch, rather than on it.
Brescia offers a welcome anchoring point. It is the city in which he was raised by adoptive parents and gained a broad northern accent. Will we see the one-goal dud from the 29-year-old’s last stint in Serie A four years ago at AC Milan, or the striker who subsequently netted 41 times in 73 Ligue 1 outings? As always, finding out provides essential viewing.
1. Ismael Bennacer – AC Milan
Marco Giampaolo is the latest incumbent at the helm of a club that CEO Ivan Gazidis poetically declared to Gazzetta dello Sport will not repeat the “illusions and lies” about instant success promised by previous regimes.
This is where the impressive Bennacer comes into play. The ex-Sampdoria man is tactically wedded to a 4-3-1-2 formation, in which an elite regista (deep-lying playmaker) is fundamental. The 21-year-old’s 312 ball recoveries was the most in Serie A last season and he sat third for most possessions won with 174. The Player of the Tournament from Algeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph is, however, no mere destroyer.
A division-leading 77.7-per-cent success rate among players who attempted 50 or more dribbles was also registered.
