Inter sensation Calhanoglu among Serie A mid-season award winners
At the midway stage of the Serie A campaign, Inter end 2021 top of the table as they seek to defend their Scudetto. A summer signing has been crucial in their efforts to ensure Inter aren't pipped by AC Milan and Napoli to top spot come May.
As such, WhoScored run through the mid-season award winners with a number of accolades, as judged by rating, up for grabs.
Best Player
After struggling in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo last season, Paulo Dybala has been much improved in 2021/22. Injuries have seen the Juventus striker start just 12 matches, but the Argentine still has five goals and four assists to his name this term. A 67.6% dribble success rate is a respectable return for a forward and has contributed to Dybala's WhoScored rating of 7.47
Across his 13 starts this season, Lorenzo Pellegrini has been named the WhoScored man of the match award five times in Serie A; no player has won more of said award. The Roma star is only two goals off matching his 2020/21 total already and he likely would have more than five goals to his name had he not sustained a thigh injury at the end of November. 3.1 key passes per game is more than any other player and has helped the 25-year-old to a WhoScored rating of 7.47.
With a WhoScored rating of 7.48, Hakan Calhanoglu pips Dybala and Pellegrini to top spot of the Serie A ratings leaderboard at the midway stage of the season. No player has registered more assists than the Inter star (7) in Italy's top tier this term, while 46 key passes is second only to Antonio Candreva (55). With an additional six goals to his name, the 27-year-old has proven a fine addition to the Nerazzurri.
Best Youngster (21 and under)
Aaron Hickey took a huge leap from Scotland to Italy 18 months ago, but the teenage left-back is benefitting from regular game time with Bologna. The Scottish left-back - yes, another one - has scored four times this season, a fine return for the 19-year-old. 1.1 dribbles and 1.1 tackles per game highlights his ability to get forward well and defend commendably where required and has seen him yield a WhoScored rating of 6.83
Sandro Tonali has been a solid performer in the middle of the park for title chasing AC Milan, returning a WhoScored rating of 6.95 this term. An 87% pass success rate is a notable return for the 21-year-old, while an average of 1.6 tackles per 90 also reinforces a statistically calculated strength of 'tackling'.
1. Dusan Vlahovic - Fiorentina
There was only going to be one winner of this category. Dusan Vlahovic's WhoScored rating of 7.37 is not only the best of those aged 21 and under, but ranks fourth overall. The in-demand Serb has scored at least three more goals (16) than any other player in Serie A this season, while five WhoScored man of the match awards is the joint-best in the division.
Best Signing
Signed as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku, who departed Inter for Chelsea, Edin Dzeko has proven a shrewd capture for the Nerazzurri. Dzeko has had a direct hand in 11 goals this season, hitting the back of the net eight times, and only Lautaro Martinez (11) has scored more league goals than the Bosnian for Inter. While 35 years of age, the striker is proving age is but a number having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.20.
Having made the move from England to Italy, Tammy Abraham has adjusted to the rigours of Serie A football with ease. The 24-year-old has six goals and three assists to his name for Roma, while additional returns of 1.1 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per game are also respectable for the England international. Abraham's good attacking showings has seen him return a WhoScored rating of 7.23.
As far as free transfers go, there are few better than Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkey international controversially crossed the Milan divide and has been key for an Inter side that sits top of the Serie A table at the midway stage of the season. 46 key passes has translated to seven assists with the 27-year-old proving a fine addition to this Nerazzurri outfit.
Biggest Rating Increase (20+ apps last season, 10+ apps this season)
3. Nicolas Dominguez - Bologna
After struggling to break into the Bologna first team last season, Nicolas Dominguez has established himself as a regular for the Italian side in 2021/22, starting 18 of 19 league matches. The Argentine ranks second for tackles (55) in Italy's top tier this term and that has helped his rating rise from 0.50 from 6.52 to 7.02, that the third biggest increase from last season.
Having failed to consolidate a starting spot for Cagliari last season, Giovanni Simeone is making the most of his regular minutes following his summer switch to Verona. Only two players have scored more league goals than Simeone (12) this season, already doubling his return from 2020/21. As a result, his WhoScored rating has increased by 0.56 to 7.07.
1. Sebastiano Luperto - Empoli
Empoli may not have the best defensive record in the division, but Sebastiano Luperto tops this leaderboard with a rating increase of 0.63. Joining from Crotone over the summer, Luperto's WhoScored rating of 6.82 may not be worth shouting home about, yet he ranks among the top 10 players for clearances (62), which has contributed to that impressive rise in rating.
Biggest Rating Decrease (20+ apps last season, 10+ apps this season)
Having been key in Cagliari's eventual survival last season, Diego Godin has failed to start regularly for the Italian side, making just 11 appearances in 2021/22. Only Salernitana (42) have conceded more goals than Cagliari (40) this season and while their sole win of the campaign came with Godin in the starting XI, the number of goals conceded per game rises from 1.8 to 2.44 when the Uruguayan does feature from the outset. A combination of poor form and a lack of game time has seen the centre-back's WhoScored rating drop 0.50.
Simy exceeded expectations to score 20 goals for relegated Crotone last season, and it saw Salernitana take a chance on the Nigerian, but the basement boys are yet to reap the rewards on the 29-year-old. Simy has just one goal and one assist to his name in 2021/22 and a 5% conversion rate is among the worst in the division of the 73 players to must 20 or more shots. A rating drop of 0.52 to 6.21 is the second worst.
A major reason for Hernani's rating drop of 0.53 is a failure to really crack the Genoa first team. Just five of his 11 appearances have come from the off, but having scored seven and provided three assists for Parma last term, Genoa perhaps expected more from the Brazilian, who has struggled to impress when given the chance.
Team of the Season
Hakan Calhanoglu is one of two representatives for league leaders Inter with Ivan Perisic enjoying a fine campaign for the Nerazzuri under Simone Inzaghi. The Croat makes the cut at left-back with Juventus star Juan Cuadrado featuring at right-back. Torino's Bremer joins Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly at the heart of the defence, the pair operating ahead of Venezia shotstopper Sergio Romero, the Argentine proving a sound free capture.
Alongside Calhanoglu in the middle of the park is Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini, while crossing the Rome divide, Pedro makes the XI on the left. On the opposite side, key Sampdoria man Antonio Candreva rounds off the midfield. Goal machine Dusan Vlahovic is joined by Paulo Dybala on the frontline in the team of the season so far. Juventus have been linked with a move for Vlahovic, so is this a sign of things to come for the Old Lady?
