Posted by There are few players that epitomize the contemporary yin and yang of Italian football better than Gianluca Mancini. The 25-year-old boasts a comfort on the ball that can only come after spending two years under the tutelage of Gian Piero Gasperini, but he also has a spiky edge commensurate with someone who idolized Marco Materazzi growing up.
That intoxicating mix of silk and steel makes Mancini one of Italy’s most promising young defenders. The Tuscan has turned heads this term in a leaky Roma rearguard, with his strong showings drawing the interest of some of Europe’s elite clubs.
It’s not hard to see why the likes Chelsea and Manchester United are reportedly interested. Mancini is a physically imposing presence, but he also boasts impressive speed and technical skill for someone his size. Often fielded on the right side of a back three under Paulo Fonseca, the Fiorentina academy product is just as comfortable sliding into a last-ditch tackle as he is storming forward.
Mancini’s range of attributes is impressive, but his aerial dominance is especially noteworthy. Few are capable of winning a header against the 6’4” colossus, and he has used that advantage to great effect at both ends of the pitch this season. The Pontedera-born player has five headed goals since December 23rd, including an exquisite glancing effort to earn the Giallorossi a draw against eventual champions Inter back in January.
The future is certainly bright for Roma’s number 23, and he is almost sure of a place in Roberto Mancini’s squad. A starting spot may be a step too far though, with Leonardo Bonucci ahead of him in the pecking order.
With the best years of his career still ahead of him, however, Mancini can afford to bide his time on the bench for a little while longer. Bonucci is no spring chicken at 34, and a generational shift could come to pass before Qatar rolls around.
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