Antonio Di Natale – 439 Serie A Matches**
(Empoli, Varese, Viareggio, Udinese)
We kick off the countdown with a man who has often received criticism for adopting this “homebody” approach, with critics citing a lack of ambition as the reason that a player of such supreme technical ability with an instinct for goal unparalleled even among his more distinguished counterparts, has never ventured beyond the realms of upper-mid-table Europa League contenders.
And it is not an unjustified claim. For a player who currently sits in sixth place in Serie A’s all-time top goalscorers charts, with 208 goals and double-figure goal tallies in every season since 2006, a career without a single major trophy seems an incredible injustice.
However, despite his critics, the man embodies the dying art of loyalty ever scarcely seen in the modern game.
Why he never left: “It was a choice of life for me. I feel so good here in Udine, and the president’s family have always made me feel like I was one of them. Some things are worth more than money.” (2014)
Click NEXT to player #5
