Italy is the home of defending.
As José Mourinho once said, if you want to study the art of defending, look no further than the partnership of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
The country’s footballing heritage is synonymous with the love of defending.
In the modern age, where the responsibilities of a centre-back are evolving, the fundamental Italian principles remain alive and well in the promising development of Diego Coppola.
This player analysis and scouting report explains why Coppola is attracting interest from Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan, as well as Brighton & Hove Albion, ahead of the summer transfer window.
Who Is Diego Coppola?
At 6’4” and just 21, Diego Coppola has quickly become a central figure in Hellas Verona’s backline.
Coppolas development trajectory has been steady since he entered the club’s youth system and made his professional debut in 2021.
His performances have earned him minutes for Italy at various youth international levels.
At a glance, Diego Coppola playing style is the archetype of the “no-nonsense” centre-back: a defender who lives for the duels, accumulates tackles and has a natural instinct for putting his body on the line.
But as with many young defenders, the real test is whether his game, which is so effective in Verona’s direct approach under Paolo Zanetti tactics, can translate to a higher level.
This pizza chart highlights Diego Coppola’s no-nonsense, tough-tackling style at the heart of Hellas Verona’s defence.
He excels in defensive and aerial duels, ranking among the league’s best.
His percentile ranks show a focus on stopping opponents first.
All data used here is based on percentile values for players in his league and position, with the 50th percentile representing the league median.
Diego Coppola Radar Chart
To understand Coppola’s game, it is important to look at his core defensive metrics.
Compared to centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, Coppola sits in the 88th percentile for tackles per 90 minutes (2.09), the 99th percentile for interceptions per 90 (2.31), and the 98th percentile for aerial duels won (3.94).
These figures show a defender who plays with relentless, front-footed aggression.
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