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Welcome to the Serie A Star Power Index: A weekly gauge of the players who are most controlling the buzz around Italy. Inclusion on this list isn’t necessarily a good thing. It simply means you’re capturing the Serie A world’s attention. This is also not a ranking. The players listed are in no particular order as it pertains to the buzz they’re generating. You can watch Serie A’s top players all season long on Paramount+.
Mike Maignan, AC Milan
When AC Milan appointed Mike Maignan as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s successor between the sticks back in May, only few could imagine the kind of impact the former Lille goalkeeper would have in his first season. For all the chatter around Donnarumma’s departure, Maignan immediately proved his worth on and off the pitch, where he became an idol for the fans just a couple months into his Rossoneri tenure.
Over the weekend against Sampdoria, he also provided one of the best assists you’ll see a keeper make to his teammate Rafael Leao, who scored the only goal of the match. It’s not the first time the goalkeeper has tried to play the long ball to his attackers, but this time he succeeded.
The 26-year-old has kept eight clean sheets — which ranks fifth among all Serie A keepers — and his clutch saves have AC Milan atop the table with a one-point advantage over Inter Milan, though the Nerazzurri have played one fewer game.
“He is a really strong goalkeeper,” AC Milan director Frederic Massara said about Maignan in an interview with DAZN. “Ee are very happy with his adaptation, he managed to integrate immediately and very well in this league. He immediately became a point of reference in the locker room, we are very happy with what he is doing and we are convinced that he still has room to grow. Now we are very happy to have Maignan and we wish Donnarumma all the best, we wish him a bright career.”
AC Milan are now more convinced than ever…
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Source : cbssports
