When you look around the modern-day landscape of the , you may notice a distinct lack of top-class Italian footballers. Over recent years, the majority of successful Italians that have ventured into the Premier League have come in the form of a manager rather than a player, with , , , Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Di Zerbi all having made their mark on one of the biggest leagues in the world. However, when you begin to look into the archives of Premier League history, the names of , Roberto Di Matteo, and Paolo Di Canio all ring fondly in the memory, having provided the league with some of its most magical moments throughout history.
Read on, as ranks the best Italian footballers to have ever graced the English top flight. Italy have produced some the greatest midfielders in football history. Players like Roberto Baggio, Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso are iconic engine room operators.
But who is the most elite Azzurri midfielder of all time? Perhaps the first name that springs to mind when thinking of iconic Italian Premier League stars, Gianfranco Zola earned a reputation for his dazzling ability to bamboozle defenders and entertain the faithful with his mesmerising footwork. Joining Chelsea in 1996 for £4.5 million, Zola stayed at the club until 2003, making 311 appearances, scoring 80 goals, and registering 39 assists in all competitions.
In his time with the Blues, he won a Super Cup, a League Cup, two FA Cups and a UEFA Super Cup, while also winning the Player of the Ye.