Martinez the star as champions Inter dominate Serie A Team of the Season
Due to both sides reaching UEFA European cup finals, Atalanta and Fiorentina played out the final game of the Serie A season on Sunday after the game was postponed earlier in the season. With that, we’ve now taken a look at the Team of the Season in Italy’s top-flight, with Monza, Fiorentina, Torino, Inter, Milan, Frosinone and Napoli all represented in our XI.
Michele Di Gregorio (Monza) - 7.03
Michele Di Gregorio’s performances between the posts for Monza during the 2023/24 season saw him return a WhoScored rating of 7.03, that the second highest for any goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues of those that made 20 or more appearances. The 25-year-old made a total of 126 saves across the campaign, more than any other goalkeeper in Serie A, while his save success rate (74.7%) ranked among the division’s best stoppers.
Michael Kayode (Fiorentina) - 6.83
19-year-old Fiorentina defender Michael Kayode takes up the right-back berth, having impressed in his first senior season with the club. Kayode made 26 league appearances as La Viola secured an eighth-placed finish and reached the final of the Europa Conference League. In all, he managed 53 tackles, 18 interceptions and 40 clearances.
Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino) - 7.14
In his second full league campaign, Italian centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno was Serie A’s highest rated defender, with a WhoScored rating of 7.14. Throughout the season, Buongiorno contributed with three goals, 70 tackles, 69 interceptions and 130 clearances, while he was awarded the Player of the Match award on six occasions.
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter) - 7.06
Joining Buongiorno at the heart of the defence, as he might at this summer’s European Championship, is Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, who enjoyed the best rated league campaign of his career to date as I Nerazzurri cruised to a 20th Scudetto. Over the course of the season, Bastoni managed a goal, three assists, 23 key passes, 46 tackles, 23 interceptions and 43 clearances.
Theo Hernandez, widely-renowned as one of Europe’s best left-backs, produced yet another strong campaign for Milan in 2023/24. The France international returned five goals and four assists in Serie A, along with 30 tackles, 23 interceptions, 37 successful dribbles and 44 key passes.
Christian Pulisic (Milan) - 7.16
In his debut Serie A campaign, Milan winger Christian Pulisic starred at San Siro, returning 20 league goal involvements (12 goals, 8 assists). Indeed, the USA international’s first season in Italy bettered any of his previous league campaigns, at both Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. Pulisic also managed 47 successful dribbles and 44 key passes, to register a WhoScored rating of 7.16.
Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter) - 7.41
Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu takes his place in our XI having played a pivotal role in Simone Inzaghi’s title-winning side. The Turkey international led his team for passes, while he also contributed with 13 goals and three assists, a career-high return for the 30-year-old in a single league campaign.
Matias Soule (Frosinone) - 7.14
Juventus loanee Matias Soule was one of the breakout stars across Europe in 2023/24, as he enjoyed an extremely promising season on loan with Frosinone. In his first full league campaign, the 21-year-old Argentine netted 11 goals and provided three assists, while he also made more key passes (82) and successful dribbles (102) than any other player in the division.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli) - 7.50
After dazzling in Napoli’s 2022/23 Scudetto-winning season, Georgia international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia improved on his season-long WhoScored rating this time around. The 23-year-old managed 11 goals and six assists for a Napoli side performing far below the level of last season, while he ranked among the top five players in the division for both key passes (63) and successful dribbles (101).
Lautaro Martinez (Inter) - 7.53
With a WhoScored rating of 7.53, Inter marksman Lautaro Martinez is our Serie A Player of the Season for 2023/24. The 26-year-old cruised to the Capocannoniere, having scored at least eight more goals (24) than any other player in the division. On a personal note, too, the Argentine performed at a higher level than ever, improving on his 21-goal tallies of 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Joining Martinez in our XI is attacking partner and teammate Marcus Thuram, whose first season in Milan saw him return 20 league goal involvements (13 goals, 7 assists) and crowned a Serie A champion. The Frenchman seamlessly adapted to life in the Italian top-flight, with that goal-and-assist tally bettering any previous league season in his career so far.
