Napoli Stars Lead The Way In The Serie A Team Of The Year

A team made up of the best players in Serie A for the 2022/23 campaign, set up in a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Goalkeeper: Ivan Provedel (Lazio)

A fantastic campaign saw Ivan Provedel finally get his chance with a big club after spells with Chievo, Pisa, Perugia, Modena, Empoli and Spezia. The 29-year-old left the latter of those sides back in August, a €2 million ($2.15 million) move by Lazio that now looks like one of the best signings of that entire summer.

Provedel kept 21 clean sheets in Serie A this term, five more than any other goalkeeper and his performances were a major reason the Biancocelesti were able to finish the season second behind Napoli.

Central Defender: Kim Min-jae (Napoli)

While Provadel may have been a low-cost acquisition, the same cannot be said of the South Korea international who was signed to replace Kalidou Koulibaly at Napoli. The Partenopei handed Fenerbahçe €18 million ($19.35 million) for Kim Min-jae, and yet that fee suddenly seems to be an absolute steal.

Serie A Player of the Month in September, statistics taken from WhoScored.com show that Kim was dominant defensively, averaging 1.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 3.7 clearances per 90 minutes. He was also dribbled past just five times in the entire campaign.

Central Defender: Gleison Bremer (Juventus)

A bright light in a season Juventus fans will want to quickly forget, Bremer made the move from crosstown rivals Torino look easy, winning over fans of the Bianconeri with some superb displays in the centre of defence.

Central Defender: Chris Smalling (AS Roma)

Another excellent year for the Englishman in Rome, continuing to show the kind of form that made him such a highly coveted star not too long ago. He won 69% of all duels he contested, while Opta also showed that he did so while commiting just 18 fouls in his 32 appearances for the Giallorossi this term.

Right Wing-Back: Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli)

The Captain of a Napoli side that won the title at a canter, Di Lorenzo can be proud of his individual performances as well as celebrating the ultimate team success. The Italy international played the most minutes of any Napoli player this term (3,257) with WhoScored’s figures showing that the 45 chances he created was higher than any other defender in the league.

Central Midfield: Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lazio)

Weighing in this term with nine goals and eight assists, the Serbia star has now been involved in over 100 Serie A goals since joining Lazio. Strong, powerful, incredible in the air and a constant threat, his value to Lazio has never been higher and they will hope to hang on to Sergej Milinković-Savić once again this summer.

Central Midfield: Nicolò Barella (Inter)

Still only 26 years old, Barella has already won the European Championships with Italy and the Scudetto with Inter, and can now add an appearance in this season’s Champions League Final to his resume.

He scored six goals this season – more than the last two campaigns combined – while also adding six assists.

Left Wing-Back: Federico Dimarco (Inter)

A superb display in that aforementioned Champions League Final capped an excellent year for Barella’s team-mate Federico Dimarco, who was a constant source of dangerous crosses all season.

Attacking Midfield: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)

What a signing! The man now known as “Kvaradona” was signed from Dinamo Batumi for just €10 million ($10.75 million) and earned just €1.2 million ($1.29 million) in wages this season.

Yet after scoring 14 goals and making 14 assists in all competitions, the impact of the 22-year-old will almost certainly see him targeted by Europe’s top clubs. He was named Serie A’s MVP and also collected the UEFA
EFA
Champions League Young Player of the Season.

Striker: Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

A 26-goal haul saw Victor Osimhen finish 2022/23 as Serie A’s leading scorer, his deadly prowess in front of goal undoubtedly a major factor in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning campaign.

His performances have seen him emerge as a target for Bayern Munich, Chelsea, PSG and Manchester United, amid talk of a new contract that would double his current salary and set a €160 million ($171.97 million) release clause.

Whatever happens, his exploits this season will make him a hero forever in Naples, and rightly so.

Striker: Lautaro Martínez (Inter)

A Scudetto, a World Cup win and two European finals, Lautaro Martinez has enjoyed incredible success since joining Inter, a fine return on the €22.7 million ($24.4 million) paid by the Nerazzurri back in 2018.

He finished second to Osimhen in Serie A’s goal scoring charts, equalling his career-best haul with 21, while also matching his highest-ever tally for assists too with six. Another three goals and three assists in Europe helped Inter reach the Champions League Final, while he also struck in the final as the Nerazzurri lifted the Coppa Italia.