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Serie A has historically produced some fine players but more famously those have been defenders. The likes of Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini and many others have been world-class with their defensive abilities.
2021 has been another year where defenders have done very well playing in the Italian league. With Napoli only conceding 14 goals this season, they have one of the best defensive records among Europe's top five leagues.
Serie A defenders have been superb in 2021
With both Milan clubs back in the race to strongly challenge for the Serie A title, the league has intensified once again. Napoli haven't gone too far and this has led to some amazing performances from the top defenders in the league.
On that note, we take a look at the best defensive performances by Serie A defenders in 2021. Interestingly, none of Juventus' defenders have made the list this year.
Honorable Mention: Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
#5 Theo Hernandez (AC Milan)
Theo Hernandez has been quite the player since joining AC Milan from Real Madrid in 2019. The Frenchman has been one of the best left-backs in Serie A for the past two seasons.
With his attacking instincts and wonderful crossing ability, Theo Hernandez is an asset going forward. The French defender has contributed significantly in the attack. He scored seven goals and recorded five assists last season when AC Milan finished second in Serie A.
He has already scored twice this season and made four assists in just 13 starts in the league. Theo Hernandez has had a wonderful 2021 and will be looking to build upon it by winning Serie A with Milan in the 2021-22 campaign.
#4 Davide Calabria (AC Milan)
From one fine full-back to another, Davide Calabria is next on this list. The 25-year old has been a very lively player for AC Milan as their right-back and in comparison to Theo Hernandez, a very balanced defender.
David Calabria, like Theo, has the tendency to attack whenever the right chance arises. He has quite a mature approach to his game and makes up for his lack of physicality using his pace and stamina. With 93 tackles, he made the second-most tackles in Serie A last season.
The Italian defender already has two goals to his name in just nine starts in the 2021-22 season. Davide Calabria remains an important outlet in the wide areas for AC Milan and will play an influential role in their bid to win Serie A this season.
#3 Cristian Romero (Atalanta)
Serie A has always been known to produce high-quality central defenders and Cristian Romero is definitely one of them. The Argentine centre-back joined Genoa from Belgrano in 2018.
After two seasons, he signed for Atalanta last season. They finished third and it was the season where Cristian Romero made his mark in Serie A. In a physical league like the Italian league, the Argentine won 112 aerial battles last season. His reading and understanding of the game made him a very composed figure at the back.
With the Atalanta side bound to attack more often than not, Cristian Romero made sure that his team did not concede on a regular basis. He is a threat in set-pieces, which makes him a complete defender. The Argentine currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
#2 Stefan De Vrij (Inter Milan)
Ever since his time with Feyenoord, Stefan de Vrij has been well-known for his defensive capabilities. He has been in Serie A for eight seasons now, first with Lazio and then with Inter Milan.
The Dutchman is quite an underrated defender given how his performances have helped his team. Stefan de Vrij's performance last season played a significant role in helping Inter Milan win Serie A. He is a smart defender with timely tackles and interceptions.
Stefan de Vrij's ball-playing abilities also come in handy when playing out from the back. In the 2021-22 campaign, the Dutch defender played a key role in conceding only 15 goals and keeping Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table with 46 points.
#1 Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)
It is surprising how Kalidou Koulibaly is still playing for Napoli and not for one of the top European clubs. The Senegalese centre-back is arguably one of the best defenders in Serie A right now.
With his aggression, effective tackling and aerial abilities, Koulibaly has a very dominant presence at the back. His tackling against dribbling players has been a delight to watch. In the 2021-22 season, he has won 18 tackles, out of which 16 have come on the defensive third of the pitch.
Koulibaly's aerial abilities help him become a big threat in set-pieces. He has already scored twice this season in 14 Serie A appearances. We might soon see the Senegalese defender join a new club given his impressive performances in 2021.
