MVP for every Serie A club this season
With an exciting Serie A campaign coming to an end this weekend, theScore compiled a list of each club's most valuable player, recognising Italy's biggest stars and unsung heroes.
Juventus - Paulo Dybala
He wasn't Juventus' primary scorer or the club's leading playmaker, but Paulo Dybala made the whole machine work. As the No. 10 in Massimiliano Allegri's 4-2-3-1 formation, Dybala had the licence to roam and provided balance and inspiration behind Gonzalo Higuain.
Roma - Radja Nainggolan
The loss of Miralem Pjanic would've hurt Roma a lot more had Radja Nainggolan not been there to anchor the midfield. Aside from his tough-tackling attributes, the tireless Belgian scored key goals in a more advanced role.
Napoli - Dries Mertens
When Arkadiusz Milik tore his ACL early in the season, Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri looked to the shorter Dries Mertens to lead the line. The feisty Belgian repaid Sarri for his faith, scoring 27 goals in 34 Serie A appearances.
Lazio - Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's size has no bearing on the way he plays, as the 6-foot-3 Serbian can thread passes as well as he can make tackles. Making regular starts under manager Simone Inzaghi, the 21-year-old produced bursting runs through midfield and smart assists.
Atalanta - Alejandro Gomez
One of just three Serie A players to reach double digits in goals (15) and assists (10), Alejandro "Papu" Gomez gave Atalanta's attack a cutting edge and helped the club qualify for Europe for the first time in 26 years. Coming off the best year of his career, Gomez should have several big offers to consider this summer.
AC Milan - Gianluigi Donnarumma
Making the extraordinary seem ordinary, AC Milan phenom Gianluigi Donnarumma used his long frame to preserve countless points for the Rossoneri. Despite his tender age, the 18-year-old never once looked out of his element on a Milan side that lacked true match-winners.
Inter - Mauro Icardi
Inter as a collective unit underachieved in 2016-17, but Mauro Icardi can be excused. The Argentine striker surpassed the 20-goal mark for the second time in his career, and single-handedly gave an otherwise disorganised Inter side a chance to win matches.
Fiorentina - Nikola Kalinic
With five game-winning goals in Serie A this season, Nikola Kalinic proved his decisiveness and, in doing so, elevated his profile to the higher echelon of marksmen in the top European leagues. The Croatian, who scored the majority of his 15 league goals in the penalty box, could earn Fiorentina a tidy profit in the summer.
Torino - Andrea Belotti
Torino president Urbano Cairo has done his part to hype up his club's prized jewel, Andrea Belotti, saying he is worth more than Lionel Messi. The Italian striker demonstrated incredible dexterity throughout the campaign, joining Edinson Cavani, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Romelu Lukaku as the only players in Europe's top leagues to score five or more goals with their left foot, right foot, and head.
Sampdoria - Patrik Schick
There's a good reason why reports of a move to Juventus have intensified in recent weeks, as Patrik Schick's devastating form at the tail end of the campaign has made him an early darling of the transfer market. Showing elegance on the ball and ruthlessness in front of goal, Schick helped Sampdoria achieve mid-table status.
Sassuolo - Francesco Acerbi
Resolute at the back for Sassuolo, Francesco Acerbi has recovered from testicular cancer to become one of the best Italian defenders in the game. The 29-year-old, who averaged more than six clearances per match, has already stated he will move on this summer.
Udinese - Cyril Thereau
At 34 years old, Cyril Thereau has found a nice home in Udine, where he has enjoyed the best season of his Serie A career. His 12 goals in 32 appearances lead Udinese - some coming in key performances against Milan and Atalanta -and proved influential as the club removed itself from relegation danger.
Cagliari - Marco Borriello
The signing of Marco Borriello on a free transfer was a masterstroke. With 16 goals in Serie A and 20 in all competitions, the 34-year-old made good on a bet with friend Christian Vieri, who didn't think Borriello could bulge the net more than 15 times.
Chievo - Valter Birsa
Providing seven goals and nine assists, Valter Birsa was ever present in Chievo's buildup play. He inspired the Flying Donkeys on many occasions, and led the team by far with 71 chances created.
Bologna - Blerim Dzemaili
Before he moved to the Montreal Impact, Blerim Dzemaili played a huge part in Bologna's bid for safety. The Swiss midfielder potted eight goals and served up three assists to complement a struggling attack.
Genoa - Giovanni Simeone
Giovanni Simeone's two-goal performance against Juventus put the rest of Europe on notice, as Diego Simeone's son finally made a name for himself on the continent. Following a reported €3-million move from River Plate, Simeone became Genoa's primary goal-scoring threat.
Empoli - Lukasz Skorupski
Were it not for on-loan goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski's brilliant saves, Empoli may have been relegated a long time ago. No one else in Serie A has made more saves than the Polish shot-stopper's 145 - not even Donnarumma.
Crotone - Diego Falcinelli
Much like Simeone, Diego Falcinelli was Crotone's only hope in front of goal. Scoring 12 times in 34 Serie A appearances, the on-loan Sassuolo striker helped secure a big victory against Inter.
Palermo - Ilija Nestorovski
Apart from Ilija Nestorovski, Palermo was a disaster this season. The Macedonian scored 10 of the Sicilian side's 31 goals.
Pescara - Gianluca Caprari
On loan from Inter, 23-year-old Gianluca Caprari acted as both provider and finisher on a Pescara squad that lacked both. He demonstrated his versatility as he lined up in various positions across Pescara's front line.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
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