After missing out on qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years, it’s back to the drawing board for Italy. The legends of Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Alessandro Del Piero, Andrea Pirlo and Francesco Totti have all passed, with Gianluigi Buffon laying down his gloves for the next generation.
READ: FIFA 19 Wonderkids: Best Italian players to sign in Career Mode
So who can inspire the Azzurri going forward? We look at the best Italian wonderkids on FIFA 18 which could be sensational signings on Career Mode. All these players are aged 23 and under, and have a potential of at least 82. We have compiled our top 10 by looking at player potentials, stats and age.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (OVR 82 – POT 94)
Age: 18
Positions: GK
Club: AC Milan
Best attributes: 88 GK reflexes, 88 GK diving, 78 GK positioning
Cost: £47.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £31,000 a week
If you are looking for a long-term goalkeeper on Career Mode, Gianluigi Donnarumma is your man. Already one of the world’s best at the age of just 18, AC Milan’s Donnarumma looks set to take the Italy number one jersey from Gianluigi Buffon (OVR 89) and perhaps keep it for as long as the Juve man has.
Donnarumma has been linked with a move to Real Madrid but he can be yours on Career Mode for £47.7 million, a pretty good price considering he could be your ‘keeper for 20 years. His wages of £31,000 will need to be increased, and that will get you his 82 overall and 94 potential, only Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe can say the same. His best attributes are 88 GK reflexes, 88 GK diving and 78 GK positioning.
Andrea Belotti (OVR 83 – POT 90)
Age: 23
Positions: ST
Club: Torino
Work rate: High/High
Best attributes: 88 finishing, 85 positioning, 85 strength
Cost: £61.9 million (release clause)
Wage: £51,000 a week
Linked with a move to Chelsea last summer, but don’t be surprised if Torino frontman Andrea Belotti does move on to a bigger club within the next 18 months. The 23-year-old striker has 46 goals over three seasons for Torino, but his efforts for Italy were not enough to send them to the World Cup in 2018.
£61.9 million will get you the forward, which may sound a lot but for an 83 overall and massive 90 potential, it’s not a bad price. That will get you Belotti’s 88 finishing, 85 positioning and 85 strength, with wages of £51,000 a week.
Federico Bernardeschi (OVR 82 – POT 88)
Age: 23
Positions: RM, CF
Club: Juventus
Best attributes: 87 ball control, 86 dribbling, 85 agility
Cost: £49.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £97,000 a week
After a season in which he bagged 13 goals, right midfielder Federico Bernardeschi made the switch from Fiorentina to Juventus, and has impressed for the Italian champions. Despite starting just three games this season, and 23-year-old has three goals and two assists to his name, putting pressure on teammate Juan Cuadrado (OVR 82) and Douglas Costa (OVR 83) for a starting place.
Bernardeschi has an 82 overall rating on FIFA 18, which can rise to a potential of 88 on Career Mode. This consists of 87 ball control, 86 dribbling and 85 agility, which can be yours for £49.7 million and £97,000 a week wages. You will need to wait until January to move for the Italian international however.
Daniele Rugani (OVR 80 – POT 88)
Age: 22
Positions: CB
Club: Juventus
Work rate: Low/Medium
Best attributes: 84 marking, 84 standing tackle, 84 interceptions
Cost: £30.9 million (release clause)
Wage: £77,000 a week
With Leonardo Bonucci (OVR 87) leaving the club in the summer, Daniele Rugani has looked to fill the void left by one of the best defenders in the world. With manager Max Allegri switching to a back four this season, Rugani has been preferred to the ageing Andrea Barzagli (OVR 84). The 22-year-old could even become the cornerstone of the Juve defence with Giorgio Chiellini (OVR 89) out of contract at the end of the season.
Rugani’s 80 overall consists of 84 marking, 84 standing tackle and 84 interceptions. Those will rise as he closes in on an 88 potential, for which you will need £30.9 million and £77,000 a week wages.
Alex Meret (OVR 74 – POT 88)
Age: 20
Positions: GK
Club: SPAL (on loan from Udinese)
Best attributes: 77 GK reflexes, 76 GK diving, 74 GK positioning
Cost: n/a
Wage: £12,000 a week
A name you may not have heard of, but Alex Meret is part of the new wave of young Italian goalkeepers. The 20-year-old has already been called into the Italy squad, and he impressed on loan at SPAL last season as they won promotion to Serie A. Unfortunately the Udinese loanee has struggled with injury this season, but expect him to return in the new year.
With Meret on loan you will need to wait until the end of the season to sign him, where you will need at least £15 million and £12,000 a week wages. A 74 overall and 88 potential makes him a fantastic option to have as a back-up for a big club, just make sure he gets some game-time and you use him in training. Meret’s best stats are his 77 GK reflexes, 76 GK diving and 74 GK positioning.
Domenico Berardi (OVR 81 – POT 87)
Age: 22
Positions: RW
Club: Sassuolo
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 87 agility, 86 ball control, 85 sprint speed
Cost: £41 million (release clause)
Wage: £55,000 a week
The rise of Sassuolo has largely been down to Domenico Berardi. At the age of just 22, the right winger is the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 61 goals, so expect the youngster to be heavily involved with the Italian national team as they look to right some wrongs.
Berardi will set you back £41 million and £55,000 a week wages, giving you his 87 agility, 86 ball control and 85 sprint speed. Those attributes add to his 81 overall, which can rise to an outstanding potential of 87.
Alessio Romagnoli (OVR 79 – POT 87)
Age: 22
Positions: CB
Club: AC Milan
Work rate: Medium/High
Best attributes: 82 marking, 82 standing tackle, 82 interceptions
Cost: £26.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £73,000 a week
Despite a summer spending spree, it’s ben a tough campaign for AC Milan as they look to gel their new-look squad together. Young centre back Alessio Romagnoli partners new captain Leonardo Bonucci in the centre of defence, and you’d think that pairing should provide the Rossoneri with some stability at the back.
Romagnoli’s 79 overall will cost you £26.8 million with £73,000 a week wages. Attributes of 82 marking, 82 standing tackle and 82 interceptions will rise as he approaches a stunning potential of 87, so the 22-year-old is a defender you must consider.
Federico Chiesa (OVR 76 – POT 87)
Age: 19
Positions: RM, CF
Club: Fiorentina
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 86 agility, 82 sprint speed, 82 acceleration
Cost: £21.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £31,000 a week
Expect 19-year-old right midfielder Federico Chiesa to be in the new-look Italian setup. The Fiorentina man has bagged four goals and three assists in Serie A this season, already trumping his return for the last campaign. Expect more as the youngster grows with confidence in the second half of the season.
86 agility, 82 sprint speed and 82 acceleration help Chiesa’s 76 overall, which will rise to an 87 potential. For those figures you will need £21.7 million and wages of £31,000 a week.
Nicolo Barella (OVR 75 – POT 87)
Age: 20
Positions: CM
Club: Cagliari
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 84 stamina, 82 balance, 80 dribbling
Cost: £21.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £31,000 a week
Given the quality of central midfielders Italy have had in recent years, it will take a great effort form Nicolo Barella to be regarded in the same manner, but there is a sense that the 20-year-old could make the step up to the international scene. The Cagliari man has already over 50 games for the Sardinians, causing him to be called up to the Azzurri squad in October 2017.
Barella’s 75 overall can rise to a superb 87 potential, for which you will need £21.1 million and wages of £31,000 a week. With attributes of 84 stamina, 82 balance and 80 dribbling, he is an exciting man to have in the middle of the park.
Marco Benassi (OVR 79 – POT 86)
Age: 22
Positions: CM
Club: Fiorentina
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 82 short passing, 82 shot power, 82 stamina
Cost: £29.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £57,000 a week
Another promising central midfielder is Marco Benassi. The 22-year-old impressed over three seasons at Torino, notching 12 goals and ten assists, before making the £9 million switch to Fiorentina. With 15 appearances, three goals and two assists, it looks to be a good signing so far.
Benassi has stats of 82 short passing, 82 shot power and 82 stamina on FIFA 18, giving him a 79 overall rating. This can rise to an 86 potential, costing you £29.3 million and wages of £57,000 a week. You will need to wait until January to claim him though.
More Italian wonderkids
Player | Age | Pos | Club | OVR/ POT | C | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antonio Barreca | 22 | LB | Torino | 75/ 86 | £29.3m | £57k |
Manuel Locatelli | 19 | CDM | AC Milan | 74/ 86 | £14.2m | £31k |
Roberto Gagliardini | 23 | CDM CM | Inter* | 78/ 85 | n/a | £21k |
Lorenzo Pellegrini | 21 | CM | Roma | 77/ 85 | £21.7m | £42k |
Mattia Caldara | 23 | CB | Atlanta* | 76/ 85 | n/a | £64k |
Patrick Cutrone | 19 | CM | AC Milan | 70/ 85 | £7.9m | £30K |
Riccardo Orsolini | 20 | RW RM | Atalanta* | 69/ 84 | n/a | £36k |
Ferdinando Del Sole | 19 | RW | Pescara* | 65/ 84 | n/a | £13k |
Moise Kean | 17 | ST | Hellas Verona | 64/ 84 | £2.2m | £4k |
Alessandro Bastoni | 18 | CB | Atalanta* | 64/ 84 | n/a | £6k |
Alessandro Plizzari | 17 | GK | Ternana* | 64/ 84 | n/a | £6k |
Andrea Conti | 23 | RM RB | AC Milan | 75/ 83 | £16.7m | £57k |
Simone Scuffet | 21 | GK | Udinese | 75/ 83 | £13.2m | £12k |
Danilo Cataldi | 22 | CM CDM | Benevento | 75/ 83 | n/a | £32k |
Stefano Sensi | 21 | CM CDM | Sassuolo | 75/ 83 | £16.7m | £31k |
Davide Calabria | 20 | RB | AC Milan | 73/ 83 | £9.2m | £45k |
Bryan Cristante | 22 | CM CDM | Atalanta* | 73/ 83 | n/a | £9k |
Alessio Cragno | 23 | GK | Cagliari | 73/ 83 | £8.7m | £24k |
Carmine Setola | 18 | LB LM | Cesena* | 63/ 83 | n/a | £1k |
Matteo Politano | 23 | LW RW | Sassuolo | 77/ 82 | £18.7m | £46k |
Amato Ciciretti | 23 | CAM LW RW | Benevento | 75/ 82 | £16.7m | £21k |
Federico Di Francesco | 23 | LW CF RW | Bologna | 74/ 82 | £14.2m | £38k |
Andrea Petagna | 22 | ST | Atalanta | 73/ 82 | £10m | £22k |
Kevin Bonifazi | 21 | CB | Torino | 71/ 82 | £6m | £17k |
Rolando Mandragora | 20 | CM CB | Crotone* | 69/ 82 | n/a | £32k |
Daniele Verde | 21 | RW ST CF RM | Hellas Verona | 71/ 81 | £28k | n/a |
Francesco Cassata | 19 | CM CAM | Sassuolo | 67/ 81 | £3.3m | £14k |
Giulio Maggiore | 19 | CM | La Spezia | 66/ 82 | £2.7m | £1k |
Christian Capone | 18 | LW CF | Pescara* | 65/ 82 | n/a | £4k |
Who have you signed on Career Mode? Let us know in the comments section below.
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