Five players Antonio Conte has transformed

#4 Andrea Barzagli

Barzagli was a key player in Juve’s defence

As a 29-year old defender, Barzagli knew his decision to move to Juventus in 2011’s winter transfer window, must be the right one, if he will go down as one of the best defenders from Italy. Many quality defenders had come and gone in Italy, such as Paulo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta. So Bazargli’s dream would be an almost shallow one, knowing he had little time to amend a career he had hugely messed up.

However, Barzagli under Conte was a revived man. His position on the left side of the three-man defence alongside Bonucci and Chiellini gave him the opportunity to shine and register his name in record books for the Juventus side. This was welcomed by the ever-demanding Conte.

"He (David Luiz) has good technique and personality like Leonardo Bonucci, Bonucci likes to play football. Also, I find him competitive like Barzagli,” said Conte when David Luiz arrived at Chelsea in 2016. That sums up Conte’s admiration of the battling defender. He helped the Italian turn into a well composed and cool-headed leader at the back.