The market often follows trends, and one of the most evident in recent years is the ever-growing focus on full-backs.Football has changed, and with it, so has the role of wide players, who have become...
The market often follows trends, and one of the most evident in recent years is the ever-growing focus on full-backs.
Football has changed, and with it, so has the role of wide players, who have become key pieces for coaches who favor all-out wing play.
Clubs are looking for complete profiles, capable of covering both the offensive and defensive phases, ideal for adapting to a back three but also for consistently pushing down the flanks.
Such players are few, in high demand and โ inevitably โ expensive. Because today, those who can excel at both phases are rare commodities.
๐ NEW FACES FOR THE FLANK
In recent years, Serie A has established itself as fertile ground for the growth and explosion of the best full-backs on the international scene. Even in this transfer window, two new faces promise to make their mark.
Negli occhi il sogno di un'avventura in nerazzurro ๐ค๐#ForzaInter#WelcomeLuispic.twitter.com/IiXlO5gm0W
โ Inter โญโญ (@Inter) June 7, 2025
The first is Luis Henrique, a winger who started as an attacking wide player, arriving at Inter from Marseille for 23 million euros. He has already made his debut with the Nerazzurri at the Club World Cup.
๐คณ Un messaggio da Wesleyโฆ#ASRomapic.twitter.com/JdTN1aX0QZ
โ AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) July 28, 2025
The other is Wesley. He played a starring role in the tournament in the United States with Flamengo, but just yesterday he was welcomed by Roma, who convinced the Brazilian club to let him go by paying 25 million euros plus 5 in bonuses.
๐ HAKIMI LEADS: THE MOST EXPENSIVE FULL-BACKS IN SERIE A
Impressive numbers, but not enough to dethrone the major signings of recent years in Serie A for this position. On the podium of the most expensive signings we find Danilo (37 million to Juventus) and Joรฃo Cancelo (40.4 million, also to the Bianconeri), but at the top of the list is him: Achraf Hakimi.
The Moroccan wide player was bought by Inter in 2020 for 43 million euros from Real Madrid, after a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.
In just one year he made his mark, contributing to the Nerazzurri's league title before being sold to PSG for 68 million. With the Parisians, just a few months ago, he climbed to the top of Europe, beating in the final the team that had launched him.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in ๐ฎ๐น here.
๐ธ Marco Luzzani - 2020 Getty Images
Category: General Sports