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With the resurgence of Italy's national football team in recent times, Serie A is seeing an influx of talented youngsters from the country who are making a name for themselves in European football.
The Azzurri's successful Euro 2020 campaign also threw up a few talented youngsters, and brought them to the world's notice. This also inflated their market value, making them some of the most sought-after players in Europe.
The CIES football observatory has released a list of the most valuable players in Serie A. The report considers key factors such as the players' age, recent performances and their respective contract lengths with the clubs they are at. Naturally, the list is dominated by young footballers.
In this article, we take a look at the five most valuable Serie A players right now according to CIES.
#5 Manuel Locatelli (€69.9 million)
Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli is currently the fifth-most valuable player in Serie A, as per CIES. The 24-year-old, who will join Juventus on a permanent basis from Sassuolo after the end of his two-year-long loan spell, is valued at €69.9 million.
The Old Lady will pay €25 million plus 12.5 million in potential add-ons to Sassuolo to permanently acquire the midfielder. Locatelli rose to prominence following his stellar performances in Italy's Euro 2020-winning campaign.
He has scored three goals this season and provided three assists in 24 appearances for Juventus across all competitions.
#4 Eljif Elmas (€75.1 million)
Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas is currently the fourth-most valuable player in the Italian top flight. The 22-year-old North Macedonia midfielder is valued at €75.1 million by CIES, and is having a breakthrough season of sorts for the Partonopei this term.
Into his third season with Napoli after joining them from Fenerbahce in 2019, Elmas has played 109 matches for the Serie A side. Six of his 10 goals for the club, and three of five assists, have come this season alone.
Elmas can play on either flank as well, which adds to his value. This season in the Europa League, the 22-year-old has been employed on the left flank, from where he has scored three goals.
#3 Federico Chiesa (€86.7 million)
Juventus winger Federico Chiesa is the third-most valuable player in Serie A at €86.7 million as per CIES. The 24-year-old was in prime form last season, scoring 15 and assisting 11 goals for Juventus across all competitions. He was instrumental for Italy in their Euro 2020-winning campaign as well, scoring in the Round of 16 against Austria as well as the semi-final against Spain.
Currently on a two-year loan from Fiorentina, Chiesa will join the Old Lady on a permanent basis after the ongoing season as the Italian giants have an obligation to buy him for €40 million.
This season hasn't quite gone to plan for the winger, as he has only been able to make 18 appearances due to recurring injury issues. He has still managed to score and assist thrice each. Cruciate Ligament Rupture has brought his season to a premature end and he is only expected to return to action in June later this year.
#2 Nicolo Barella (€91.6 million)
Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella joined the Nerazzurri in the 2020 summer transfer window for €32.50 million from Cagliari, and in only one-and-a-half seasons, has grown into the second-most valuable player in Serie A. He is currently valued at €91.60 million by CIES.
Barella was another of the shining lights in Italy's triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, scoring once and assisting twice in the tournament. He was influential in his club's Serie A title win too, scoring three and assisting nine times in the league.
The 24-year-old has been on fire this season too, assisting eight goals in the league to help the Nerazzurri take a healthy four-point lead at the top of the table. Barella will still have four years left on his contract with Inter after the current season.
#1 Lautaro Martinez (€93.4 million)
Inter striker Lautaro Martinez is currently the most valuable player in Serie A, according to CIES. The Uruguayan, one of the most sought-after strikers in European football currently, is valued at €93.40 million.
Since joining the Italian giants from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has made 160 appearances for the club, scoring 61 goals. He scored 17 league goals last season to help Inter win Serie A. The 24-year-old's goal-scoring form even led to Barcelona links but a deal didn't materialize.
Martinez signed a contract extension with the club in October last year that will see him stay in Milan until 2026. He has scored 12 goals across all competitions for Inter this season, and if he continues firing on all cylinders, any potential suitors will have to shell out a huge amount to sign him.
