Manuel Locatelli‘s most disappointing career moment to date came less than two years after UEFA Euro 2024.

Italy were off to Germany to defend their crown, having won a continental tournament three years prior, with Locatelli playing a starring, breakout role.

Yet Azzurri boss Luciano Spalletti did not select the midfielder for his squad, much to people’s surprise, stating, “Manuel has good footwork and exceptional defensive qualities, but perhaps he’s a little too conservative for where the role is going.” 

We’re now in 2026, and while Juventus have faltered in recent weeks, Locatelli is playing a key role in one of Europe’s most exciting teams to watch, under the same manager.

This Manuel Locatelli scout report and player analysis examines the key role Manuel Locatelli plays for Italy as they prepare for their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification Playoff Final clash with Bosnia & Herzegovina. 

Luciano Spalletti Tactics At Juventus 2025/2026 

When Spalletti took over from Igor Tudor in October, there was a belief among Juventus fans that we’d see him quickly implement the system he’s become famous for, the 4-3-3.

He’d become immortalised with the system in Naples after their famous Scudetto win in 2022/2023, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano on either side of an attack spearheaded by Victor Osimhen. 

However, that hasn’t really been the case in Turin.

Spalletti has mainly used a three at the back, predominantly setting his team up in a 3-4-3, with a 4-2-3-1 used sparingly.

While it’s come as a surprise, it’s somewhat of a forced issue due to the squad makeup. 

There is no natural right full-back in the squad, and the left-back, Andrea Cambiaso, is someone you want closer to the opposition goal rather than your own.

Pierre Kalulu is the preferred choice for the right centre-back role, Lloyd Kelly on the left and defensive stalwart Gleison Bremer through the middle.

Right-back Weston McKennie (Juventus’ Swiss army knife) will then be given a free-roaming role; you’re just as likely to see him making runs you’d expect from David Trezeguet as you are to see him making blocks in his own penalty area.

Cambiaso will often be found inverting, with Locatelli (more on his role later) often dropping into the back three, and Khéphren Thuram playing more of a traditional ‘8’ role. 

Juventus Lineup Vs Napoli (25/01/26)

Juventus are everything you’d hope for in a Spalletti team. 

They’re flexible in their positioning, they look to get the ball to their dangermen, Kenan Yıldız and Francisco Conceição, as quickly as possible, isolating them out wide before flooding central areas with attacking players.

While they sit fifth in Serie A right now, Opta’s Expected Table has them second, and only champions-elect Inter Milan have scored more goals than Juventus. 

Manuel Locatelli’s Role In Possession 

Juventus are a very fun team to watch right now (there have been 17 goals in their last five games), and Locatelli has a huge role to play in this.

Both Kelly and Kalulu are given a licence to roam to some degree and are allowed to carry the ball up the pitch.

They can often do so because of the tactical role Locatelli plays. 

Manual Locatelli Heat Map At Juventus 2025/2026

Locatelli gets everywhere, but arguably his biggest asset to this team is what he does in his own half.

When Juventus are building up, Locatelli will drop into the defence, either receiving the ball from the goalkeeper or another centre-back.

He’ll drop in beside Bremer, allowing either Kalulu or Kelly (or both) to push higher up and wide, with Cambiaso filling in the space vacated by the Italian. 

This is key, as one of Locatelli’s greatest strengths is his long-range passing.

Teams can’t just sit off him and allow him the time and space to look up, pick his target and move Juventus 60 yards up the pitch in an instant, they have to press him.

Locatelli can then quickly shift the ball out wide to Kelly or Kalulu, or past his presser into Cambiaso, who is now central. 

In doing this, he’s taking one or two players out of the game for the opposition.

The initial press is broken, and Juventus now have a numerical advantage and space to attack.

These might look like small, easy passes, but it’s the threat of what Locatelli can do that allows Juventus to gain an advantage over their opponents. 

So, what can he do? 

I’ll admit it, I’ve been a big fan of Locatelli since his Sassuolo days.

The double pivot he formed with Maxime Lopez for Roberto De Zerbi was joyous to watch.

Part of what made that team so special was Locatelli’s sweeping passes out to players like Domenico Berardi. 

This season, Locatelli is playing 6.89 accurate long passes (with a 63.1% success rate) per 90 minutes, per Wyscout.

His quarterback-like passing is used in a variety of situations, including one in a recent game against Udinese, where he gets the ball directly from kick-off, taking a touch before curling the ball out wide to Yildiz, thus immediately putting Juventus on the front foot.

Yet, he’s just as comfortable doing it in open play, as the visual from Opta shows us.

Don’t get it twisted, though.

Locatelli is not just out there constantly looking to play the Hollywood passes; he also acts as a metronome.

No player in Serie A has either attempted (2047) or completed (1820) more passes in the league so far this season. 

The Lombardy-born midfielder is key to his team in all three thirds of the pitch.

We’ve already covered what he does on the ball in his own third, but he’s just as effective in the attacking third.

He’s not the sort of midfielder that’s going to pop up with the number of goals and assists that make your head turn, but you will often find him at the base of Juventus’ attack, conducting things.

Again, no player in Serie A has either attempted (683) or completed (559) as many passes in the final third as Locatelli.

As one of the more dominant sides in the league, Juventus often find themselves up against deep blocks (Juventus are the fourth-highest-ranked team in possession in the league).

Locatelli’s role is to keep the ball constantly moving, either from side to side to create space or to punch the ball into the gaps that appear. 

Manuel Locatelli Pizza Chart 2025/2026

Manuel Locatelli Defensive Ability & Stats 

I wanted to use this piece to highlight how important Locatelli was from an in-possession point of view, but he’s also key when defending. 

First and foremost, the Italian makes sure he wins his duels.

He wins 6.64 defensive duels per 90 at a success rate of 61.9%.

As Spalletti’s deepest midfielder, it’s key that Locatelli can do two things: read the game well and is able to break up the play.

He does both.

His 4.67 interceptions per 90 allow his team to attack while the opposition isn’t in a set defence.

His 1.58 fouls per 90 (the most of anyone in the squad with 10+ 90s played) might look like a negative, but these fouls are often him stopping counterattacks, the sort of fouls where someone in the room shouts ‘GREAT FOUL’. 

What’s perhaps most impressive about his defensive game is how front-footed and aggressive he is.

He is currently posting 8.83 recoveries in the opposition half per 90; this is huge for Spalletti’s tactics, Juventus can then overload attacking areas and sustain an incredible amount of pressure on their opposition.

Teams can only hold on for so long if the ball keeps coming back at them. 

Conclusion 

Locatelli felt like he’d reached a crossroads in his career earlier this season under Igor Tudor, the team he had supported since birth were stuck in a rut, and so was he.

However, Spalletti has given him and his club a new lease of life.

Locatelli is again seen as one of the best midfielders in Italy.

If his country get through the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs, you can be sure he’ll be on the plane to the US, Canada and Mexico.

He’s again getting calls for big-money moves, moves he’ll likely resist as he’s at his club. 

Locatelli is a joy to watch at his best, and the coach that once wouldn’t pick him is a huge reason why we’re seeing it again.

They seem like a match made in heaven: a multi-functional, progressive and aggressive midfielder for a coach that wants fluidity, flexibility and high-energy.

Long may Locatelli’s resurgence continue, even if there is the odd missed-penalty bump in the road.