Mario Balotelli Paolo Di Canio Gianfranco Zola Italians Premier League GFXGetty

Hit or miss? Gianfranco Zola, Mario Balotelli and the most high-profile Italians to have played in the Premier League as Sandro Tonali completes Newcastle move

There is no denying that Italy has played a hugely influential role in the development of the Premier League. In recent years, coaches such as Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte have been responsible for title wins and tactical trends that changed the English game.

Before that, players like Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli and Paolo Di Canio improved the standard of play in the Premier League, adding a combination of quality and character, as well as an international flavour, that helped transform the competition into the global brand that it is today.

However, not every Italian has made such a positive impact. Below, GOAL grades the most high-profile Italian players ever to ply their trade in the Premier League, running through all of the greatest hits, and most miserable misses...

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