After an impressive, although injury-hit season with Roma, Owen Diana believes Leonardo Spinazzola will be a genuine contender for a starting spot in the Azzurri squad at Euro 2020.
In an Azzurri teeming with talent, left-back is one of the few question marks for Roberto Mancini. Emerson Palmieri has been the former Inter coach’s preferred option since last autumn, but the Brazil-born defender has appeared only six times for Chelsea since the turn of the year.
The second option is Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola, and the Foligno flyer deserves a starting place if he can overcome his persistent injury problems. The former Juventus man has come into his own this campaign under Paulo Fonseca, with eight assists in all competitions representing the best return of his career.
Blessed with terrific speed and silky dribbling skills, Spinazzola has terrorised defences up and down the Peninsula all season. He is just as happy taking on his marker as he is combining in close quarters with his attacking companions, which makes him an ideal partner for any left winger. The telepathic understanding that the 28-year-old has developed with Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been one of the major plus points for La Lupa this term.
Spinazzola has been key to anything good that the Giallorossi have done this campaign, and his absence has been a major blow for them down the stretch. The 6-2 thrashing at Old Trafford serves as a particularly poignant example, with the capital club good value for their 2-1 lead before their No 37 hobbled off in the 37th minute with a left flexor complaint.
The Siena academy product has been on the treatment table since then, and how he returns from that setback remains to be seen. His powers of recovery have convinced Mancini enough to be included in the provisional squad, but he could be left short of match sharpness at the worst possible time. Spinazzola at his best is capable of beating out the competition at his position, but he is in a race against the clock to reach that top form.