The old guard leads the Nerazzurri locker room

The historic core represents the true guarantee of the Nerazzurri dressing room. According to the Corriere dello Sport, six players have built the foundations of the project over the years, making a difference with experience and leadership. While newcomers like Spence, Stones, and Stankovic still have to prove their worth, the group of veterans knows the environment and the team’s mechanisms inside out.

The captain Lautaro Martinez is in his ninth season with the Nerazzurri. Barella and Bastoni are starting their eighth, while Dimarco is experiencing his sixth year in the first team after coming up through the youth sector. Calhanoglu is also in his sixth year, with Mkhitaryan having reached five seasons. The Armenian is currently the only one among those mentioned who would not start as a regular.

“From leader Lautaro to the playmaking of Calhanoglu, this is a group that has always been on the front line over the years, guiding the youngsters and solving even the most intricate situations on the pitch. Regardless of tactical ideas, every coach has kept them at the center of the project to build its foundations,” the newspaper emphasizes.

The symbols of the future are already present in the squad. Pio Esposito in attack and Bisseck in defense, whose contract has been renewed until 2031, represent the prospects to build on. Time will tell which other youngsters like Sucic will become pillars. In the meantime, the team enjoys the solidity of the current old guard.