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After the massive disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Italy have emerged as a serious contender for the 2022 edition, to be held in Qatar. The European giants showed their class at Euro 2020, steaming their way to the title.
The Azzurri remained unbeaten throughout the competition and won all three of their group stage matches while keeping a cleansheet in each of them. Their resurgence under Roberto Mancini has been incredible and they are now one of the strongest sides in international football.
With the upturn in form, the value of their players in the transfer market has gone up too. Some of the increase in the Italian players' market value could be credited to their triumphant Euro 2020 journey.
On that note, here's a look at the five most valuable Italian players currently (October 2021) based on Transfermarkt:
#5 Marco Verratti - €55 million
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is currently the fifth most valuable Italian player in the market. Though his value has gone down recently owing to his injury struggle, the 28-year-old is still valued at €55 million.
Verratti moved to PSG from Pescara in 2012, and has since made 353 appearances for the club, the second highest in the club's history. The midfielder signed a five-year deal with the club in 2019 which will keep him in Paris until 2024.
Considering Verratti's quality and consistency, he has been courted by multiple clubs during his time at PSG. However, the French giants have managed to keep hold of him. The club also signed Verratti's Italy team-mate Gianluigi Donnarumma in the summer transfer window, along with Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Georginio Wijnaldum.
In the ongoing season, Verratti has made just seven appearances for the club across competitions due to recurring injury issues.
#4 Alessandro Bastoni - €60 million
Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni is currently fourth on the list of the most valuable Italian players in the market. The 22-year-old played 33 league matches as Inter romped to the Serie A title under Antonio Conte last season.
The centre-back has three more years left on his current deal with the Nerazzurri. But he has recently been linked with a move to Real Madrid, who reportedly want to sign him in the next summer transfer window.
Though Inter haven't quite replicated their performances from last season (they are still third on the table), Bastoni has continued to perform at a high level. He could be one of the hottest properties by the time the next summer transfer window rolls on.
#3 Gianluigi Donnarumma - €65 million
Paris Saint-Germain signed Gianluigi Donnarumma on a free transfer from AC Milan in the summer transfer window this year. The 22-year-old has joined PSG on a five-year deal and is part of a massive summer overhaul as the French giants push to win the elusive Champions League title.
Donnarumma has made five league appearances for PSG so far, keeping one clean sheet in the process. The Italian has been switching the starting eleven spot with Keylor Navas.
The former Milan goalkeeper was an integral part of the Italy national side that won Euro 2020 earlier this year. He kept three clean sheets in the group stage and helped the Azzurri win consecutive penalty shoot-outs in the semifinals and final. He was named the player of the tournament for his heroics and is currently valued at €65 million.
#2 Nicolò Barella - €65 million
Inter Milan midfielder Nicolò Barella is currently the second most valuable Italian player in the market. Barella moved to Inter from Cagliari in the 2020 summer transfer window in a deal worth €32.50 million, and has since doubled his market value.
In the 2020-21 season, the midfielder scored thrice anad gave 10 assists in Serie A to help Inter win the title. He has continued to assist his team-mates in a similar fashion in the ongoing league season as well.
Barella has scored once and assisted six goals in the league so far, making him the top assist-maker in the 2021-22 Serie A season. He still has another three years left on his contract with the Italian champions.
#1 Federico Chiesa - €70 million
Federico Chiesa's stock sky-rocketed after an incredible Euro 2020 for Italy. He scored two goals for the Azzurri, playing in all seven matches of the tournament.
Chiesa moved to Juventus in the 2020 summer transfer window from Fiorentina in a deal rising up to €60 million if all conditions are met. He joined Juventus on an initial two-year loan deal, during which the Italian champions were obligated to pay €10 million per year. They will then pay up to €40 million to Fiorentina for a potential permanent deal at the end of the loan.
He hasn't had a great league season so far, scoring and assisting once each, but has still been linked with Premier League sides Chelsea and Liverpool. Some reports even claim that Chiesa turned down the opportunity to sign for Jurgen Klopp's side in 2020, choosing Juventus instead.
