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From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterMarco Palestra is hoping for a first international call-up in March.While Italy have an illustrious lineage when it comes to graceful defenders with aura recently mocked in memes for simply meaning handsome a number of Azzurri leaders at the back are emerging in the mould of the old guard.With Palestra still just 21, is he cut from the same cloth as a Bastoni or a Calafiori? Here's your speedy scout report.You may likeWho exactly is Victor Valdepenas? FourFourTwo's two-minute scout reportWho exactly is Mbekezeli Mbokazi? FourFourTwo's two-minute scout reportWho exactly is Mikel Jauregizar? FourFourTwo's two-minute scout reportSo who exactly is Marco Palestra?PROFILEName: Marco PalestraPosition/s: Right-back, right wing-backAge: 21 (Born: February 23, 2005)Nationality: ItalianHeight: 1.86m (6ft 1in)Preferred Foot: RightCurrent Club: Cagliari (on loan from Atalanta)Inter Milan passed on signing a 10-year-old Palestra, and the Milanese has been in Atalanta's academy ever since, breaking through with La Dia in 2023. Last summer, he headed out to Sardinia (all right for some) to join Cagliari on a year-long loan, where he has begun to make waves as a right-back in Serie A.He began in midfield, before moving out to the wing, then settling on a place at right-back and his upbringing is obviously. Palestra has the enthusiasm of a Denzel Dumfries, bombing up and down a flank all day long, but he doesn't have the power: he's elegant like a trequartista, and reads the game with a maturity that belies his 21 years a skill that has come in particularly handy when it comes to learning the ropes of building play in the first phase, and positioning himself out of possession.Palestra's strengthsPassing, delivery and security: It was famously said of a fellow Italian master that passing the ball to Andrea Pirlo was like hiding it in a safe, and Palestra has a similar quality. Not only is his passing excellent and his crossing dangerous, he's tidy in possession: he doesn't waste the ball, he doesn't take unnecessary chances and despite being 21 in his breakout season, he's unbelievably reliable.Technical and tactical versatility: Palestri is incredibly comfortable with both feet and has played both right- and left-back in the past. This is a unicorn profile: someone comfortable as the third centre-back in the first line of play, as an inverted full-back, or as an overlapping full-back potentially on either side. He's been used as a wing-back in a 3-5-2 and in a back four.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Composure and maturity: Calm under pressure, excellent in build-up and comfortable attacking, too, it's hard to believe Palestri is still in his breakout season. His anticipation and a reading of play that he honed in his time as a midfielder has made him one of the most precocious defenders of his age group in Italy.1v1 defending: Palestri has a good understanding of positioning and spacing out of possession, making him a good one-on-one defender. He doesn't have the aggressive style of, say, Riccardo Calafiori when it comes to tackling: he's a disciplined defender who looks to time his moment to dispossess rather than lunge in.Engine: Tall with a long stride and the stamina to get up and down the pitch all 90, Palestra has an underrated engine, and he covers a lot of ground. He's rarely caught out of position in transition either way.You may likeWho exactly is Mikel Jauregizar? FourFourTwo's two-minute scout reportWho exactly is Rodri Mendoza? FourFourTwo's two-minute scout reportWho exactly is Sota Kitano? FourFourTwo's two-minute scout reportMarco Palestra - Dominant Wingback - 2025 - YouTubeWatch On Palestra's areas of developmentPhysical prowess and aggression: Despite being 6ft 1in and offering a relentlessness at full-back, you wouldn't describe Palestra as being particularly physical. He struggles in aerial duels and can be outmuscled by target men: not the biggest issue for a full-back, but he may find himself targeted by muscular wingers like Antoine Semenyo until he bulks up a little. This lack of aggression shows in his passivity in a low block, too.Focus and consistency: He's still incredibly inexperienced at the top level, so naturally, it's expected that Palestra will struggle to stay switched on at all times. Again, this will come with time.Risk-taking: Such security on the ball is a double-edged sword. Palestra is composed and safe in possession, but struggles to really slice through opponents or break lines with anything ambitious. Perhaps confidence will change that.Palestra's ceilingMORE REPORTSDEFENDERS Ethan Pye, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Victor ValdepenasMarco Palestra is likely competing with Raoul Bellanova for Atalanta and Italy, with 32-year-old Giovanni Di Lorenzo surely not part of Gennaro Gattuso's long-term plans. Returning to Bergamo in the summer is likely, ahead of trying to establish himself for a club in European competition if, of course, Atalanta can hold onto such a talent. Palestra has a rare profile found in only a handful of players in elite football: should he continue his excellent development, he could become one of the most valuable players in Europe.TOPICSAtalantaCagliariMark WhiteSocial Links NavigationContent EditorMark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robsons time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.
