The 25-year-old endured a tough spell in Serie B in his early career but has excelled at Torino and possesses the right blend of attacking quality and defensive solidity
When international rookie Matteo Darmian was named by Cesare Prandelli in Italy’s 2014 World Cup squad, a number of eyebrows were raised. Little more than 12 months on, he is one of the Azzurri’s most indispensable players and is now a 14.3 million pound ($22 million) Manchester United star.
In a country in which many of the most desirable footballers tend to work their way towards Juventus, AC Milan or Inter before gaining regular international recognition, Darmian’s rise to the top has taken a less familiar route.