Gianluca Mancini

Location: Italy

The whole family decided to come together for Christmas. We love how the walls sport two different hues yet compliment each other very well. The dog's name is Wendy, in case you were wondering. (Image: imgur.com)

Modeling yourself after one of the most vicious defenders in the history of the sport says something about you as a player and a person. The legend in the picture is, Marco Materazzi and our boy who was considered a puny child by his father, has developed into this brute of a defender and earned himself the nickname, Sheriff. He was discovered by a local coach who got him truly interested in football as a seven-year-old. It was not long before he signed with La Viola's academy. He spent 9 years honing his skills with the Florence based team. His debut as a senior was with Perugia, who had brought him on loan in 2015. His Serie A debut came two years later when he signed for Atalanta. It was ironic in a way because it was Fiorentina who were the opponents. After two years and a breakaway 2018-19, Roma have brought him along for a loan deal with an obligation to buy provided a few conditions are met. He has become a regular with La Lupa and has played in 87% of the available minutes in Serie A in the '19-20 season. His aerial prowess sets him apart in the team that has quite a few big men in its lineup. His interceptions are noteworthy, and he is an effective tackler too. He has already debuted for Italy's senior squad and has also played for his country at the Under-21 level.