
Key strength: Work rate
Box-to-box midfielder
Atalanta BC find themselves in unfamiliar territory, languishing in 10th place with a concerning DLWDL form line that has the Bergamo faithful restless. Gianluca Gasperini's relentless pressing machine has spluttered this season, yet amidst the mediocrity, 22-year-old Lorenzo Bernasconi offers a tantalizing glimpse of the future. The Italian left midfielder, valued at €20m and donning the number 47 shirt, has emerged as a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating campaign. With 360 minutes across four appearances, Bernasconi has yet to find the net but has already contributed one assist while operating as the team's energetic box-to-box presence. His FIFA profile paints the picture of a modern midfielder in development: 68 passing, 63 dribbling, and 61 physicality suggesting a player equally comfortable breaking lines or recovering possession. That single yellow card in his ledger? A badge of honour for the tenacity Atalanta demands. While teammates like Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca grab headlines with their attacking exploits, Bernasconi does the unsung work—harrying opponents, driving forward with the ball, and embodying the 'never-say-die' ethos that defines La Dea. For a club renowned for polishing raw gems into European-class talents, this tireless 22-year-old could be Gasperini's next masterpiece in the making.