‘Darmian’ is not the most Italian of surnames.
But the Torino defender certainly plays like an Italian full-back. In the mould of Gianluca Zambrotta, Matteo Darmian is a steady and at times brilliant defender who is unlikely to produce flashy or costly moments in equal measure. He is exactly the cool head Manchester United need on the right-hand side of their defence.
Darmian has already reached the top of the European club game. He has already won the Champions League. Yet in the 2006-07 season, Darmian made no appearances as AC Milan won its seventh European crown. The now-25-year-old received a winners medal on account of being named in the Rossoneri’s 25-man squad for the Champions League.
Over the next three seasons, Darmian failed to impose himself at the San Siro and was sent out on loan to Padova. In the Italian second tier’s 2009-10 season, Darmian got match experience, but once again, he did not impress with his side, only just avoiding relegation thanks to victory in a relegation playoff.
When Darmian returned to the San Siro the following summer, he was moved on to Sicilian side Palermo. Yet it took Damian six months to make his Serie A debut for Palermo and again, Darmian failed to pull up any trees.
It was his move to Torino, in the summer of 2011, when Darmian finally found his feet in Italian football. For the first time in his career, in the 2011-12 season, Darmian played more than 20 games in a season. During his four seasons at Torino, Darmian has always played at least 30 games, helping i Granata achieve a period of relative success.
It was at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where Darmian announced himself to the footballing world. He managed to get ahead of Milan’s Ignazio Abate and establish himself as Italy’s number one right-back. Darmian played all 270 minutes of Italy’s dire campaign in South America but that should not be held against him. He was easily Italy’s standout performer in another dismissal tournament for the four-time world champions. Later in the year, Darmian was awarded the Pallone Azzurro as the best player of the national team for 2014.
After an impressive World Cup, Darmian took his game to the next level last season with Torino. The Italian international was a central figure as Torino recovered from a poor start to finish ninth in Serie A, in between the two Milan teams.
Darmian put in some superb performances and was part of the Torino side that beat Juventus for the first time in 20 years. Darmian also excelled in Europe as il Toro reached the last 16 of the Europa League, eventually losing to Zenit Saint Petersburg 2-1 on aggregate.
Numerous clubs across Europe were after Darmian but Manchester United appear to have won the race. Even though he was not seen as good enough at Milan, Darmian is more than equipped to play for an elite side.
He is not as forward thinking as United’s current right-backs, however. Antonio Valencia and Rafael would certainly offer more than Darmian going forward. The Italian international is known for swinging in quality crosses when forward.
The most important attribute United will gain, however, is Darmian’s defensive capabilities and tactical knowledge. He has all the qualities of a top class full-back. Whether it be awareness, composure or positioning, Darmian has a mature head on his shoulders.
Torino has made a habit in recent years of selling its best players to top clubs around Europe. First, another Italian international defender Angelo Ogbonna moved across to Turin to move to Juventus in 2013. Last summer, Ciro Immobile moved to Borussia Dortmund while Alessio Cerci went to Atletico Madrid. The common theme in these three moves? All have failed.
After two seasons at Juve, Ogbonna is on his way out of the club after failing to find his way into the Bianconeri’s back three, with a move toWest Ham United looking on. Immobile has struggled to fill the boots of Robert Lewandowski at the Westfalenstadion and could be on his way back to Italy this summer. Cerci, meanwhile, only lasted six months in Madrid before he was sent back to Italy, on loan to Milan.
Darmian has the ability to buck the trend. At just 25, he has his best years ahead of him. With him on the right and Luke Shaw on the left, the future of Manchester United’s full-backs looks bright.
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