Buongiorno picks three Italians in favourite defenders, Lukaku toughest opponent | OneFootball

Alessandro Buongiorno has picked three Italians and two former Milan players in his list of all-time favourite defenders, and has revealed that Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku is the toughest striker he has come up against in his career so far.

The Italy international spoke about his career, idols and toughest challenges during a Q&A session with betsson.sport.

Buongiorno picks favourite defenders, toughest opponents past and present

Romelu Lukaku of Belgium (L) and Alessandro Buongiorno of Italy (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Italy in Brussels, Belgium, 14 November 2024. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS

The Partenopei centre-back admitted that former Lazio and Milan stalwart Alessandro Nesta, currently in charge of Monza, was his favourite Italian defender growing up, although he also has a soft spot for Sergio Ramos.

“As a kid, I used to watch a lot of videos of guys like Maldini, Nesta and Cannavaro, Italian defenders in general. I was always inspired by their way of winning the ball,” he said.

Asked if he has a specific favourite defender he used to look up to, Buongiorno replied: “Of the three, probably Nesta. More recently, another player I always followed because of his charisma and personality was Sergio Ramos. I try to watch these guys as much as possible, trying to pick things up from them.”

epa00998510 Defender Alessandro Nesta of AC Milan celebrate the victory at the end of the Champions League second leg semifinal match against Manchester United in Milan’s San Siro-Giuseppe Meazza stadium late 02 May 2007. AC Milan won 3-0 and acceeds to the final match against Liverpool which will be played in Athens on 23 May. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI

The former Torino defender also revealed which striker has given him the toughest time in his career to date.

He responded: “When I was in Torino, Romelu Lukaku, when he was at Roma, and when he was at Inter. I tried to watch a lot of videos of strikers so I could study them.”

And hypothetically, if he could play against a player from any generation past or present, who would it be?

“I would have liked to play against Ronaldo, O Fenomeno. I think he was a very strong striker, a champion, so if I had to pick a name, it would be him.”