MARCO PALESTRA CROWNED SERIE A’S BEST DEFENDER AFTER STANDOUT CAGLIARI CAMPAIGN

Italian youngster Marco Palestra has been recognised as the Serie A Defender of the Year for the 2025/26 season, capping an impressive campaign that established him as one of the most exciting young defensive talents in Italian football.

Palestra earned the individual honour after a highly productive season on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta. The 21-year-old right-back played a major role for Cagliari throughout the campaign, making 35 Serie A appearances, scoring once and providing four assists. His performances were enough to earn him the league's top defensive award at the end-of-season ceremony.

Beyond his defensive responsibilities, Palestra demonstrated remarkable attacking ability for a player operating primarily from the back. He ranked third in Serie A for attempted dribbles with 118 and successful dribbles with 81, while no defender in Europe's top five leagues completed more dribbles than the Italian during the campaign. He also recorded 67 touches inside the opposition penalty area, ranking fifth among all Serie A players in that category.

His athleticism was another major feature of his breakthrough season. Palestra recorded an average top speed of 27.96 km/h, the highest figure in Serie A during the 2025/26 campaign. That performance earned him the league's Speed Award, with Napoli's Rasmus Højlund and Fiorentina's Dodô finishing behind him.

The award adds to what has been a remarkable rise for Palestra, who developed through Atalanta's youth system before making his senior breakthrough. His successful loan spell at Cagliari gave him the opportunity to establish himself at the highest level of Italian football, while his performances also earned him recognition at international level with Italy.

Palestra's development attracted considerable attention from major European clubs, but Chelsea eventually secured his services from Atalanta in July 2026. The Premier League club signed the Italian defender on a seven-year contract running until 2033, with the transfer reportedly worth up to £47 million including add-ons.

The Serie A Defender of the Year award therefore represents more than just an individual achievement for Palestra. It highlights the rapid progress of a player who has gone from being a promising Atalanta academy graduate to an award-winning Serie A defender and, now, a highly valued addition to Chelsea's squad.