20 Serie A Players to Watch out for in 2014
Now that 2013 has come to a close, it's time to look at which players will break through or continue their dominance in 2014.
Serie A is one of the leagues with the most parity, and many sides will look to strengthen themselves in the January transfer window.
Here are 20 players to watch for in 2014.
Alessio Cerci (Torino)
1 of 20
The talented winger is simply too good for a team like Torino and needs to show his immense class at the highest level.
Cerci's performances have put him Cesare Prandelli's radar, and he has become a regular for the Italian national team.
Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina)
2 of 20
His 14 goals so far in Serie A after being out for two seasons with serious knee injuries is reason enough to put him on any list.
He has also become the focal point of the Azzurri, but the real question will be if Giuseppe Rossi can remain healthy and continue his dominance.
Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
3 of 20
The teenage sensation has seven goals for newly promoted Sassuolo and is a truly interesting prospect who is owned by Juventus.
It would be surprising if the Bianconeri didn't bring him back to their squad next summer.
Keisuke Honda (Milan)
4 of 20
The Japanese international has just joined Milan from Russian side CSKA and has been given the fabled No. 10 kit as he looks to make his mark instantly on a Rossoneri team desperately in need of help.
Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
5 of 20
A diminutive winger, Lorenzo Insigne has the perfect blend of pace, vision and technique to be a catalyst for Napoli.
Expect big things from him at the 2014 World Cup.
Mattia Destro (Roma)
6 of 20
Mattia Destro has scored in every game he has played in since coming back from a serious injury.
He's Roma's No. 9 and will spearhead them forward as they look to get back into the Scudetto race.
Mattia Perin (Genoa)
7 of 20
The young goalkeeper has incredible reflexes, and it's almost frightening to think how much better he'll get as he matures.
Expect Perin to make a move to one of Europe's giants next summer.
Jorginho (Hellas Verona)
8 of 20
Verona's box-to-box midfielder in one of the brightest prospects in Italy and is one of the main reasons why the recently promoted outfit is doing so well in the top flight.
Jorginho is extremely versatile and can affect the game in a multitude of ways.
Juan Iturbe (Hellas Verona)
9 of 20
What a revelation Juan Iturbe has been with Hellas Verona ever since joining from Porto.
Even though he's on loan, Verona is blessed to have him as he's been a consistent contributor, dazzling with his pace, technique and finishing ability.
Mattia De Sciglio (Milan)
10 of 20
Mattia De Sciglio didn't enjoy too much success in the latter part of 2013, as injuries took away from his continuity.
He'll have to get back on track to win his place back in Cesare Prandelli's Italian national team.
Stephan El Shaarawy
11 of 20
2013 was a nightmare for Stephan El Shaarawy.
The new year hasn't been any kinder, as he'll be out for the next 10 weeks following foot surgery. Whether or not Milan keeps him or loans him out remains to be seen, but he is still one of the best prospects the peninsula has to offer.
Danilo D'Ambrosio (Torino)
12 of 20
Danilo D'Ambrosio has been a great performer for Torino on the flanks and has been tipped by Football-Italia to join Milan this January transfer window, where he'd be an instant starter in the back line.
Ciro Immobile (Torino)
13 of 20
Torino striker Ciro Immobile has finally reached his potential in Serie A after struggling last season with Genoa.
Owned by Juventus, Immobile already has eight goals domestically and could be brought back to Turin next summer.
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
14 of 20
It's a shame that Paul Pogba might not stick around in Serie A, as giants such as PSG have already expressed plenty of interest, as reported by Goal.com's Stefan Coerst.
His ceiling is truly limitless as he's an athletic freak who has plenty of technique as well.
Simone Zaza (Sassuolo)
15 of 20
Yet another Juventus-owned player on this list, Simone Zaza is definitely one to watch out for.
The 22-year-old has scored five goals for minnows Sassuolo, linking up beautifully with striking partner Domenico Berardi.
Mateo Kovacic (Inter)
16 of 20
Why Walter Mazzarri is not playing the young Croatian No. 10 more often is one of the most bizarre stories in Serie A.
Every time Mateo Kovacic steps on the field, he is instantly more dangerous than Saphir Taider, who seems to be Mazzarri's preferred choice in the midfield.
Luis Muriel (Udinese)
17 of 20
Even though the Colombian striker has battled weight issues, he has looked like a complete striker when suiting up for Udinese.
Blazing speed mixed with sumptuous finishing have made him a hot prospect across Europe. Don't expect Udinese to be able to hold on to him much longer.
Antonio Cassano (Parma)
18 of 20
Antonio Cassano is on this list for only one reason—he always burns bridges with teams, and it's only a matter of time before he does something to anger Parma higher-ups.
It's unfortunate that a player with such sublime skill has been a journeyman throughout his career, as one can only imagine how he'd be if he had the mentality of someone like Javier Zanetti.
Ricky Alvarez (Inter
19 of 20
If I told you a year ago that Ricky Alvarez would be on the fringes of the Argentine national team, you would have recommended me to a mental health institution.
Well, the wonders of Walter Mazzarri have really rubbed off on Alvarez, as he has become a focal point of his team.
Manolo Gabbiadini (Sampdoria)
20 of 20
Not to sound like a broken record, but this is yet another Juventus-owned striker who's been doing well on loan to a smaller Serie A club.
Gabbiadini is a tall, lanky athlete with a venomous left-footed shot from outside the area. If you haven't heard his name before, don't be surprised to see it in the headlines soon.
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