17 May 2011
Following on from last weeks look at the best Africans in England and Spain this season, we turn our attention to the Italian Serie A.
5. Mehdi Benatia (Udinese/ Morocco)
Appearances/goals: 33/3
The Moroccan defender is in his first season in Italy following a summer move from French Ligue 2 side Clermont and has been a revelation for high-flying Udinese. Benatia was actually born in France to a Moroccan father and an Algerian mother, and so had the pick of all three nationalities, but opted for Morocco, where he has become a regular international.
His displays have helped Udinese to the brink of UEFA Champions League qualification this season, an excellent effort for the 23-year-old in his rookie year in Italy.
4. Hassan Yebda (Napoli/Algeria)
Appearances/goals: 29/0
Yebda was loaned to Napoli by Portuguese side Befica after he performed well in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and such has been the impact he has made at his new club that Napoli moved swiftly to make the deal permanent before his loan spell was up.
A French junior international, he is a regular for Algeria and has helped Napoli into third place in Serie A this season, their highest finish since winning the Serie title in 1990.
3. Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese/Ghana)
Appearances/goals: 37/2
Nobody has made more appearances at Udinese this season that the Ghanaian midfielder Asamoah, showing a consistency in his performances that is rare in one so young. The 22-year-old is in his second season with the club, and possibly his last if rumours of some of Europes elite clubs sniffing around his services are to be believed.
2. Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan/Ghana)
Appearances/goals: 25/3
Many people raised an eyebrow when Boateng joined AC Milan, via Genoa who had purchased half his contract from English Premiership Portsmouth. Boateng had a mediocre 2009/10 Premiership season but was one of the stars of the 2010 World Cup for Ghana, winning him global acclaim.
He has managed to carry that form through to Milan, where he has helped the side lift their first Serie A title since 2004.
1. Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan/Cameroon)
Appearances/goals: 34/21
Etoo could not help Inter retain their Serie A crown, but still managed 21 goals in 37 appearances this season, a more than satisfactory return. It placed him third on the Serie A top-scorers chart and is made even more impressive by the fact that he played in a side that at times struggled this season, especially under former coach Rafael Benitez. Etoo remains a world-class performer.
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