The Bianconeri may have romped to an eighth consecutive Scudetto but, the Portuguese superstar aside, they were outshone by the likes of Atalanta
Getty1Alessio Cragno | Cagliari
Inter's Samir Handanovic may have kept the most clean sheets in Serie A this season (17) but no goalkeeper has made more saves in any of Europe's 'Big Five' leagues than Alessio Cragno (152), whose shot-stopping played a pivotal role in keeping Cagliari up.
Having progressed through the under-age ranks with Italy, it is now only a matter of time before the 24-year-old, who received his first senior call-up last September, is handed his international debut by Azzurri boss Roberto Mancini.
AdvertisementGetty2Pol Lirola | Sassuolo
Sassuolo's decision to sign Pol Lirola on a permanent transfer from Juventus last year has now been fully vindicated. Indeed, at this point, the €7 million fee is looking like an absolute steal.
As well as netting two goals, the Catalan has created a further six, more than any other defender. To put that in context, that's as many assists as Federico Chiesa and Ivan Perisic combined!
Getty3Armando Izzo | Torino
Torino don't score many goals (49) – no side in the top 10 has netted fewer – so the only reason they are even in with a shout of qualifying for Europe is their backline, which has been led magnificently by Armando Izzo.
The Neapolitan has won more duels (253) and aerials (117), and made more interceptions (85), than any other defender in the league. Thus, the 27-year-old centre-half's first Italy cap, in March, was as unsurprising as it was merited.
4Kalidou Koulibaly | Napoli
Giorgio Chiellini may have been once again integral to Juve's title triumph but there is no better defender in Serie A right now than Napoli's much-coveted centre-half, Kalidou Koulibaly.
Wonderfully composed and gifted in possession (no player in Serie A has made more successful passes – 2229), the Senegalese is quick, brave, colossal in the air and reads the game wonderfully well – as so fantastically illustrated by his spectacular off-the-line clearance against Inter last weekend.