AC Milan and Juventus have been known over the years as the two sides who have often provided the backbone of the Italian national team, or at least have produced plenty of native talent.
However, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports how the two starting line-ups are likely to have a very non-Italian flavour. Sandro Tonali is a certainty for Milan, with Matteo Gabbia also expected to start, while for Juventus it is Leonardo Bonucci who leads them, with Manuel Locatelli favoured over Leandro Paredes.
However, barring last-minute surprises, Milan-Juve at San Siro will have just four Azzurri players, something that has only been seen twice in the era of three points per win.
Back on 9 May 2021 at the Allianz Stadium there was Chiellini and Chiesa against Donnarumma and Calabria, with Milan winning that game 3-0. The other occasion was 11 November 2018 at San Siro with three Italians in the Rossoneri ranks and only Chiellini for the Bianconeri.
Of course there are various factors for this such as injuries for both sides but it also tells a story of a transfer market strategy that has extended beyond borders. It is no coincidence that in the last four seasons the maximum number of starting Italian players in a Milan vs. Juventus game was 8 players out of 22.
The Milan-Juve of the 70s, with Italian surnames from the first to the last item of the team sheet, has therefore gone. It would have been higher has Alessandro Florenzi and/or Davide Calabria been fit, while there are suggestions that Tommaso Pobega could start.
The Tassotti-Baresi-Costacurta-Maldini defence in the 90s to the Pirlo-Gattuso-Ambrosini midfield in the 2000s is gone. Juve boasted Bonucci, Chiellini, Bernardeschi and Chiesa at the European Championship win last season, though they should have plenty on the bench tonight such as Perin, Pinsoglio, Gatti, Rugani, Fagioli, Miretti and Kean.
