The 2015-16 Serie A season began as the most competitive campaign since 2011-2012 when Juventus and Milan battled for the Scudetto.
Not only did this campaign start off competitively, the reigning champions Juventus struggled big time initially. This season witnessed records being broken and comebacks take place. Football on the peninsula enjoyed some terrific performances, so sit back and enjoy as we highlight the ten best footballers of the campaign.
10. Radja Nainggolan (Roma)
The Pitbull in the centre of midfield for the Giallorossi, Nainggolan has been one of the only consistent players during the troubling times nearing the end of the Rudi Garcia era. When Luciano Spaletti returned to the club in January he continued to boss the midfield with his tenacious play of winning back the ball and his constant drive to move forward when he had it. Roma could be in massive trouble if they lose the Belgian considering they have already lost Miralem Pjanic to arch rivals Juventus. Belgium will need Nainggolan’s terrific Roma form to bring balance to the side at the Euros.
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9. Joao Miranda (Internazionale)
The Brazilian has enjoyed a superb debut season in Serie A. While his team ended up finishing 13 points off the Champions League placing, Miranda has proved to be a rock at the back for Roberto Mancini’s side. The 31-year-old was key to the Nerazzuri’s great first half of the season, where they were first for a while.
8. Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina)
The shining star at La Viola this season was the starlet himself Federico Bernardeschi. The current Italian international proved to be a key player in whichever formation his coach would choose. Playing wing-back in a 3-5-2, 3-6-1 or 3-4-3 and playing as a winger in a 4-3-3. Bernardeschi has scored six goals and six assists in all competitions this season, and those figures will only improve for the 22-year-old in the next campaign. The youngster’s speed and agility will be a handy option for Antonio Conte at the Euros.
7. Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)
The 2006 World Cup winner has had a renaissance as of late, flourishing due to the constant injuries to Giorgio Chiellini this season. Barzagli has been La Vecchia Signora’s best defender all season, which is somewhat surprising considering how he struggled with injury last season. The 35-year-old was a key factor in Buffon’s incredible clean sheet record and his side’s terrific run to the end of the season. The veteran defender will be a third of the Italian wall at the European Championships in France.
6. Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)
The Senegalese international has not only been arguably the best defender in Serie A this season, he also been the most improved defender by far. Koulibaly struggled under Benitez’s reign at the Azzuri drawing criticism from fans in the process. However, under the tutelage of Maurizio Sarri the defender’s game has improved leaps and bounds as has the entire defence.
5. Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
The Neapolitan born and bred winger enjoyed mixed fortunes under the guidance of Rafael Benitez. Like many other players though, under Sarri, he has become a key figure for the Stadio San Paolo side. Insigne ended the season with 12 goals and 10 assists. The 25-year-old also enjoyed a terrific partnership with Gonzalo Higuaín which was the most fruitful pair in Europe at one point, with a combined 48 goals and 12 assists. Insigne may not play a prominent role in Conte’s side this summer, however, he will provide the spark when called upon.
4. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
The renaissance continues for Gigi Buffon. Considering his team endured a difficult start to the season, not even the legendary captain himself would have thought that he would break the clean sheet record this season. The record stood at 974 minutes without conceding, surpassing Sebastiano Rossi’s effort in the 1993-94 season. Buffon has extended his deal at the Old Lady until the end of the 2017-2018 Serie A season, let us see if the legend can beat his own record. The goalkeeping stalwart heads into his last Euros this summer, being the leader and the key component to the Italians team spirit.
3. Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Another terrific season for the Frenchman, after the departures of Vidal and Pirlo he became more crucial than ever, after an initial struggle to the season, Pogba shined as did the rest of the team. Pogba ended the season joint top of the assists chart with Pjanic at 12 and scored 8 goals in the process. The Bianconeri remain confident that he will continue to dab on the peninsula next season. In the meantime, Pogba will feature as the star in Les Blues home tournament and hopes to win the competition and follow in the footsteps of his French Juventus predecessors such as Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane and current national team coach Didier Deschamps.
2. Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli)
Higuaín broke the 66-year-old goal scoring record of Milan’s legendary Swede Gunnar Nordahl with 36 goals. Il Pipita broke it in style as well with an incredible overhead bicycle kick. The most wanted striker on the planet was clearly instrumental in Napoli’s run to second place and automatic Champions League qualification. The Partenopei faithful will be hoping that the Argentine stays at the San Paolo, however, if he does leave, the Neapolitan club will have an enormous budget to splash in the transfer market.
1. Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
After arriving for €32 million from Palermo, the Argentine has been that good he has nearly made most fans forget about Carlos Tevez. La Joya ended his debut season with 19 goals and 9 assists, clearly instrumental in the Scudetto winners terrific end to the season. Dybala will only improve next season and continue to be a shining star for the Bianconeri and its faithful.
Honourable Mentions:
– Allan (Napoli)
– Jorginho (Napoli)
– Hysaj (Napoli)
– Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan)
– Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
– Carlos Bacca (AC Milan)
– Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo)
– Sime Vrsaljko (Sassuolo)
– Miralem Pjanic (Roma)
– Mohammed Salah (Roma)
– Samir Handanovic (Internazionale)
– Sami Khedira (Juventus)
– Nikola Kalinic (Fiorentina)
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