Andrea Barzagli has named five young Italy defenders who might be of interest to CT Gennaro Gattuso in the near future, but who are the Azzurri hopefuls and when could they make an impact in the national team set-up?
Barzagli has recently taken up the role as the assistant to Silvio Baldini within the Italy U21 group.
Barzagli names five young Italy defenders to keep an eye on
Speaking in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Italy and Juventus legend named five centre-backs to keep an eye on in the near future.
Among them is Giovanni Leoni, who completed a move to join Premier League champions Liverpool from Parma during the summer transfer window.
Giovanni Leoni signs his Liverpool contract (liverpoolfc.com)
Though he is the youngest of the defenders mentioned by Barzagli, he has already earned his first call-up to the Italy national team, although it remains to be seen how much of a role he will be given within the first-team set-up at Liverpool.
The 18-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to fame over the last calendar year. He only made his Serie A debut last November, and only became a regular in the Parma side during the second half of the 2025-26 season.
He went on to play an important role in helping Parma secure Serie A safety last season, and will now train alongside the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate on a daily basis at Liverpool.
EMPOLI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 8: Luca Marianucci of Empoli FC reacts and Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Empoli and AC Milan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on February 8, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Another defender who Barzagli thinks is worth keeping an eye on is Napoli’s Luca Marianucci, who joined Antonio Conte’s side from Empoli at the beginning of the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old made 18 appearances in Serie A last term, and is capable of playing in either a back three or a back four, usually as the left-most of the centre-backs given that he is a left-footer.
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – APRIL 12: Fabio Chiarodia of Borussia Mönchengladbach looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Sport-Club Freiburg at Borussia-Park on April 12, 2025 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)
Two of the young Italy defenders Barzagli has tipped are currently plying their trade in the Bundesliga. One of them is Fabio Chiarodia, who was born and raised in Germany to Italian parents.
Chiarodia came through the youth ranks at Werder Bremen, and completed a permanent transfer to Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2023. He made 16 top-flight appearances with Die Borussen in 2024-25, and has appeared in both of the club’s first two Bundesliga matches this campaign as well.
Filippo Mane is also in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund as things stand. The 20-year-old came through the youth ranks of Novara and Sampdoria before moving to Dortmund as a teenager in 2022.
HAMBURG, GERMANY – AUGUST 23: Filippo Mane of Borussia Dortmund receives a red card from referee Matthias Jollenbeck during the Bundesliga match between FC St. Pauli and Borussia Dortmund at Millerntor Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
He was named as a starter for Dortmund’s opening Bundesliga match of the 2025-26 season, but is still serving a suspension following a late red card in a 3-3 draw with St. Pauli.
Lastly, Barzagli feels that it is worth keeping an eye on Gabriele Guarino, who is currently playing in Serie B with Empoli.
SAN MARINO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gabriele Guarino of Italy U21 in action during the UEFA Under21 Euro Qualifier match between San Marino U21 and Italy U21 at Serravalle on November 16, 2023 in San Marino, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
He spent the 2024-25 season on loan in Serie B with Carrarese, and is set to go again in the second flight following Empoli’s relegation from Serie A at the end of last season.
So far, he has come on as a substitute in one league match, and also played the full 90 minutes of an eventual penalty shoot-out victory against Reggiana in the first round of the Coppa Italia.
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