Key stat explains Locatelli’s Italy return after Euro darkness | OneFootball

Manuel Locatelli has returned to Italy’s national team, and, as reported by Opta, the Juventus midfielder has had the most line-breaking passes in Serie A this term.

Juventus midfielder Locatelli has returned to Italy’s national team to replace the injured Samuele Ricci.

The Torino playmaker had suffered an injury during the latest derby d’Italia against Locatelli’s Juventus at the Allianz Stadium.

Key stat explains Locatelli’s Italy return after Euro darkness

Italy coach Spalletti announced Locatelli’s return during a press conference attended by Football Italia in Coverciano on Monday.

As reported by Opta on X, formerly Twitter, Locatelli has had 142 line-breaking passes in the Serie A this season, at least 19 more than any other player.

Spalletti dropped Locatelli for last summer’s Euros following unconvincing performances for Juventus under Massimiliano Allegri.

The central midfielder reacted on Instagram with a cryptic, all-black Instagram picture that mirrored his mood after Spalletti’s Euro 2024 squad was announced.

Locatelli, 26, has 14 appearances across all competitions with Juventus this term.