Why Adam Masina is the best left-back in Serie A
Faouzi Ghoulam and Marcos Alonso are also blazing a trail at Napoli and Fiorentina respectively, but they couldn’t show the same amazing consistency of Bologna’s starlet, while Juventus’ star Alex Sandro has only showed a little of the potential which led the Old Lady to acquire him from Porto on a € 26 million deal last summer.
Masina is a product of the Rossoblu Academy, although he spent the 2012-2013 season with the Lega Pro side Giacomense, failing to make his debut with the senior team. Oddly, the Moroccan-Italian player has not miss one single minute of this campaign and he was among the Felsinei’s mainstays both with Delio Rossi and Roberto Donadoni in charge of the club.
A crucial quality for all the modern left-back is the ability to cover both attacking and defensive duties and Masina is proving to be able to do both. His defensive consistency is highlighted by the amazing rate of 83% of tackles won (he made 35 challenges, Ghoulam has 11, Marcos Alonso 17), combined with 24 clearances and five blocks.
FAOUZI GHOULAM STATS
MARCOS ALONSO STATS
His solidity on the defensive line does not prevent the 21-year-old to push forward in search of attacking opportunities. Masina created made 26 crosses, creating 14 goal opportunities and registering three assists.
In the first top flight-season of his career, he has already scored two goals, both from inside the danger area. The first one against Carpi allowed Delio Rossi to extend his stay on the club’s bench, while yesterday he netted the opener in a controversial Serie A clash against the Scudetto pretenders Roma. Masina’s passing accuracy is impressing too. He got right the 77% of 511 passes, and in a period in which Antonio Conte is seeking for a quality left-back who can balance the dynamism of Alessandro Florenzi who plays on the opposite flank, Masina could be the answer to Italy’s coach needs.
