Sporting Kansas City is one of the charter members of the MLS.
Participating in the United States’ top flight since 1996, the team, originally known as the Kansas City Wizards, has tasted success throughout the years.
Sporting KC is one of the most decorated clubs in the States, having won the Supporters Shield once, the MLS Cup twice, and the US Open Cup four times.
Led by technical director and coach Peter Vermes, Sporting Kansas City has been successful not only with their first team but also with their academy.
From the youth academy to their second team, which competes in the USL, Sporting KC has a solid path for its players.
In 2017, one of their top academy players signed a Homegrown contract with the club, making him the youngest player to sign for an MLS club since Freddy Adu.
This player is none other than Gianluca Busio.
Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Busio moved away from his family at a young age to pursue his dream of becoming a professional football player.
Having made his way through the ranks, Busio is just getting started.
As interest from clubs in Serie A increases, the young Italian-American continues to impress for his club.
This Gianluca Busio tactical analysis will examine what makes Busio an integral part of Sporting Kansas City and why clubs in Europe are beginning to take notice.
Gianluca Busio Style Of Play
At 18, Gianluca Busio is one of the more composed midfielders in the MLS.
This composure is evident in his stats, which place him among players in a similar position.
The young midfielder boasts an average of 50 passes per 90, with an impressive 91% accuracy.
Analysing his passing in key areas reveals just how accurate he is in his position.
To go along with his passes per game, Gianluca Busio averages 7 progressive passes per game.
Highlighted in blue, we can see below where he stacks up against his peers.
Busio is one of 14 players with at least 500 minutes played who are above the league average in both passes per 90 and progressive passes.
Progressive Passes Per 90 x Passes Per 90
Gianluca Busio Position
Sporting Kansas City has typically lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with a single pivot or a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Busio usually plays as that lone pivot in front of the centre-backs.
He is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or a box-to-box midfielder.
Examining the young midfielder’s heat map reveals the extensive ground he covers between the two penalty areas.
Gianluca Busio Heat Map
In the next part of the Gianluca Busio scout report, we will analyse how Busio’s off-the-ball movement supports Sporting KC’s tactics.
Gianluca Busio Off The ball movement
Gianluca Busio is unlikely to be the type of player who holds the ball up with his physique.
The midfielder stands at 172 cm tall and weighs 65 kg, which gives him a more slender frame than the typical holding midfielder in the MLS.
His frame and playing style is quite similar to Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich.
Busio’s off the ball movement allows him to arrive into space when it is time to receive the ball.
In the following sequence from their match against Minnesota United, we see this in action.
Starting higher up the field to allow Sporting’s centre backs space to build up with.
Busio then drops to collect the ball, drawing Minnesota’s first line of pressure towards him as he receives.
This movement creates space he will move into as the ball moves to the outside back.
As the right-back dribbles forward, Busio realizes that there are no forward options.
He then stops his forward run to create a passing option between the Loons’ first pressing line of two.
The midfielder then opens his body up as he receives the ball and quickly plays to the left-back.
By combining his movement with his passing vision, Busio successfully helps Sporting play through Minnesota’s press.
We will examine his contributions in the final third in the next section of the analysis.
Gianluca Busio In the final third
Busio’s tactical versatility and vision enable him to initiate attacks for Sporting KC in the final third.
Once he is around the penalty area, the young midfielder can deliver the ball in various ways.
Analysing Busio’s deliveries into the penalty area reveals exactly how he assists Sporting in attacking the penalty box.
Gianluca Busio Final Third Actions Map
The Sporting KC youngster is also comfortable peppering the opposition’s goal from outside the penalty area.
Analysing his shot map from 2019, we see that of his 37 total shots, 24 came from outside the box.
Gianluca Busio Shots Map
Using his goal against the Colorado Rapids, we can see how he approaches taking his shots.
Typically, on corner kicks, he will be the furthest from the goalkeeper.
Tactically, it makes perfect sense because there are bigger players that will be more effective in the air.
As the ball gets cleared, Busio anticipates where it will land.
Maintaining his calm under pressure from a defender, he collects the ball and immediately winds up to have a shot.
Busio then steers a rocket through a crowd into the bottom left corner.
Not only does the youngster aid the build-up, but he is also capable of creating and finishing chances.
As a midfielder, Busio must also help Sporting in the defensive phase of the game.
In the next section, we will look at Busio’s defensive qualities.
Gianluca Busio Defensive contributions
The Sporting KC youngster’s contributions on defence are also vital for his team’s success.
Busio easily helps with Sporting Kansas City’s counter-pressing and recovering the ball in transition.
Averaging 8.22 recoveries per 90, along with 4.85 counter-pressing recoveries, we see below exactly where he ranks among his fellow midfielders.
Recoveries Per 90 & Counter-pressing Recoveries Per 90
His ability to read the game allows him to anticipate passes and intercept them.
This is one of the ways that Busio is able to stop opposition counter-attacks before they even develop successfully.
Analyzing the following sequences, we will see two instances of Busio’s interceptions.
Against FC Dallas, we see Busio moving towards the area where the ball is being passed.
Scanning the scene as he arrives, he notices that the highlighted Dallas player could potentially receive a back pass.
The young midfielder recognizes the pass will happen before the Dallas player does.
This allows Busio to change his pace, intercept the ball and pass it to his teammate.
His anticipation allows Sporting KC to counter-attack a disorganized FC Dallas immediately.
Next, we have an example from the match against Minnesota United.
Busio is in a supporting position as his teammates lose possession out wide.
As the opponent starts to wind up to pass, Busio recognises where the pass is going.
He immediately begins to cut off the nearest outlet pass to the forward.
This anticipation allows Busio to stop the pass and bring the ball under control before passing it to his teammate.
Within the defensive third, he is also consistent, averaging 8.32 defensive duels per game.
Examining an analysis of defensive duels that he won, we see that 16 of those occurred inside Zone 14.
Gianluca Busio Defensive Third Actions Map
Conclusion
These are exciting times for followers of the USMNT.
With talented players such as Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, Josh Sargent, Weston McKennie, and Christian Pulisic making progress at their respective clubs, the future looks bright.
Gianluca Busio will soon be among the current crop of American midfielders making waves in Europe.
He will likely follow Philadelphia Union’s Brenden Aaronson as the next young American to jump after this season.
His Italian passport could potentially make Serie A his destination, with clubs such as Fiorentina, Roma, and Juventus all expressing interest.
