5 of the best-Andrea Pirlo replacements

Possible Andrea Pirlo replacements for Italy.... 

Well , They say he gets better with age , such is the aura of this classic bearded Italian Legend who's been the driving force for club and country for what seems like ages ,now . Football fans in general won't like the sight of him hanging up his boots but , eventually  Andrea Pirlo will have to setlle for a lesser role in the coming years.  Yes , he can't be replaced by Italy nor  by Juventus but someone will have to fill this gap left by him. This gap by no means is a small one , as Italy's all round play will depend on the one who fills this gap.  The one who comes in will obviosly under the kosh for a while , down to the fact that he's come in for a player like Andrea Pirlo . With Pirlo possibly playing his last International tournament for Italy here , we examine the players capable of filling that huge gap.  

Marco Verratti -  Paris  Saint  Germain  

At 21 years of age , Marco Verratti is one of europe's brightest midfield prospects. The former Pescara player is a Defensive Midfielder with some qualities which are rather surprising for a player in his position. Technically gifted , he's a supreme  passer of the ball, particularly in difficult circumstances. His remarkable technique to get away from players helps a whole lot here. He's also a quick , sublime dribbler and finds the right pass even when it comes to the passing in the final third. Paris Saint Germain soleley depend on Verratti to getting the ball out of the defense and linking up with the likes of Javier Pastore etc. 

Even though  being small in size , his ability to retain the ball is one of his major assets. Being quick , he isn't afraid to dive into tackles in which he often comes out on top winning the ball for his team. Verratti can also operate behind the striker in the no.10 role , when needed.  His technique  of going about things on the pitch and his abilities to pass and  to find a teammate in the most difficult of circumstances make him a player capable of filling the void which will be left by Andrea Pirlo. At such a young age , he's the perfect player around whom Italy can raise a team in the near future.  

   

Claudio Marchisio - Juventus 

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Experienced Juventus vice captain is already a main fixture in the Gli Azzurri side. He's been immense playing in front of the likes of Bonnucci , Chiellini , Barzagli etc , along with that his defensive contributions 

have also led to Pirlo having sufficient space to orchestrate the play. Marchisio is a mixture of an attacking midfielder and a Defensive midfielder. A proper Central midfielder in simple words. He's very good going forward and can see a final pass. On the other hand , he's a workhorse when it comes to his defensive contributions.

He acts as a shield for his back four , be it for Italy or Juventus. Intercepting and breaking down play are one of his major qualities.Moreover , he's a textbook passer of the ball who often likes to play one touch passes. When given time and space , he's also a good long range shooter. The  ever present Claudio Marchisio will have to take over more responsibilities when Pirlo isn't there. He's certainly capable of doing so , as he's shown that at Juventus at times.  

Andrea Poli - AC Milan 

After joining Milan , we've seen that Poli , a Central midfielder by trade , is very versatile and can also play as an Attacking midfielder. This is a player who was dubbed as "The New Pirlo" a few years ago. These expectations were too pre-mature considering his perfomances weren't consistent. Nevertheless , he's always been a talented player. Poli operates well in a three as well as a four man midfield. He likes to have more of the ball and always  has an unexpected turn or a flick up his sleeve. He's the one on whom AC Milan often rely for dictating the tempo of the play. A smooth passer and a brilliant interceptor , Poli is a very versatile player as he can also put a shift in at Right back. At 24 years of age he's a player entering the prime years of his career and will only be getting better every season. He can well be the one who fills Pirlo's role in the near future if he showcases his talent on a consistent basis. 

  

There are many player who can fill that Andrea Pirlo role for the time being , the likes of  Daniele De Rossi , Ricardo Montolivo , Thiago Motta are close calls for this job , but the  three mentioned above, are the best when considering a long term solution for Italy's  Midfield Anchorman role .