Matteo Darmian Scout Report
Matteo Darmian, a seasoned Italian veteran, stands out as a jack-of-all-trades in Inter's setup, impressively versatile in right midfield, right back, or center back roles. At 34, it's rare to see a player play in high engine-required areas like midfield and maintain such robust numbers; however, Darmian's player report for the 2023-24 season shows him doing just that. His Ball Recovery is remarkable, in the top 98 percentile, demonstrating his dogged commitment to defense and tenacity in winning back possession for his side. Coupled with a Pass Accuracy per 90 at just over 97%, Darmian is both a bulwark and a smooth engine, retrieving and redistributing the ball with precision.
While his Goal Efficiency is commendable, sitting comfortably in the top 76 percentile, other aspects of his attack are somewhat discouraging. His Progressive Carrying and Chance Creation are disproportionately low, in the 7th and 4.5 percentile respectively; these numbers shed light on his lacking forward momentum and minimal contribution to scoring opportunities. As a midfielder, these should be areas of concern in need of improvement. Also, his Assists per 90 and xA per 90, although in the double digits, are quite low for a player in his position.
But Darmian compensates for this with his Ball Retention and Progressive Passing, which stand in the comfortable ranges of the 62nd and 64th percentiles respectively. His solidity in possession and purposeful distribution confirm his value as a stabilising figure in Inter's midfield. Overall, Darmian is what you call a traditional-style Italian player: more substance than style, precision over gloss, more about the collective than individualistic flair; his statistics underline such a profile.
