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#2: Sandro Tonali
Age: 19
Club: Brescia
Nationality: Italian
Fans of football video games such as FIFA and Football Manager will be familiar with the name Sandro Tonali. Earmarked as a hot prospect since he broke out for Brescia in Serie B at the age of 17, Tonali has now gained worldwide recognition for his performances for the newly-promoted club.
Tonali's best position on the pitch is as the deepest of three midfielders in a 4-3-3 and is given the responsibility of shielding the defence and initiating counter-attacking moves with his passing ability. The young Italian also has the licence to drive forward with the ball at his feet, and is quite good at that as well, completing 17 of his 19 attempted dribbles in 9 Serie A game so far this season. Tonali has also drawn 2.3 fouls per game on average, thereby enabling Brescia to take full advantage of set pieces.
It suits Tonali's game to be part of a team that relies heavily on dead ball situations, as he is lethal in such positions. His 2 assists this season have both come from corner kicks, and his solitary goal was scored via a direct free kick. Indeed, at times, Tonali can seem almost Andrea Pirlo-esque in his striking of a football.
Tonali was one of Italy's key players at the U-21 European Championship and made his senior international debut earlier this year, coming on as a substitute in a 5-0 win. His consistency has seen him linked with a host of top European clubs, including Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United, and there is no doubt that he could potentially become a world-class player at any of these teams.
