Who is Raoul Bellanova? The electric Torino star wanted by Man Utd & Aston Villa

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 22 May 2024 10:58 BST
• 4 min read

Torino star Raoul Bellanova has emerged this season as one of the best wing-backs in Serie A.

The lightning-fast Italian has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Aston Villa in the process, with the Red Devils sending scouts to watch him on numerous occasions.

So what do we know about Bellanova?

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer news

What club does Raoul Bellanova play for?

Bellanova plays for Torino in the Italian Serie A.

What position does Bellanova play in?

Bellanova’s natural position is as a right wing-back or as a right back.

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive Italian players of all time

How good is Raoul Bellanova?

Raoul Bellanova has been one of the best wing-backs in Serie A this season.

Deployed as a right wing-back in Ivan Juric’s 3-4-1-2 system, Bellanova has been an electric force down his flank.

A very attacking-minded player, Bellanova’s best attributes are his pace and ball-carrying. He averages 4.23 progressive carries a game, which puts him in the 96th percentile in the league. He has 1.39 successful take-ons per match, which puts him in the 89th percentile.

Bellanova’s lightning pace and acceleration is a huge weapon for his side and he is able to eat up the ground and cover his flank seamlessly.

Bellanova has been one of Torino biggest offensive threats and he has contributed one goal and seven assists in the league, including a fantastic assist for Ivan Ilic in the 3-1 win over Milan at the weekend.

The wing-back’s form saw Bellanova earn a call-up for the Italy national team for the first time for the March 2024 international break. He made his debut in the 2-0 win over Ecuador in the United States and was one of the most impressive players on the pitch before being subbed at half time due to injury.

He now has a chance of being included in Italy’s squad for Euro 2024 in June.

In terms of weaknesses, Bellanova is not as comfortable defensively as he is offensively. For this reason, he is more suited to a wing-back system with three centre backs behind him rather than as a right back in a back four.

Bellanova’s crossing and final ball can also be sometimes frustrating. This is an aspect of his game he needs to improve in order to flourish at a big club.

Bellanova does, however, have the raw attributes to be an exciting player in the future.

Inter Milan loaned him from Cagliari for the 2022-23 season but he saw little game-time, even if he did come on in the Champions League final defeat to Manchester City.

Inter believed in his potential and had wanted to sign him ideally when he joined Torino for €7 million in the summer of 2023.

Bellanova had grown up in the AC Milan youth academy, spending 13 years there before being sold as a teenager to Bordeaux in 2019. After a series of loan moves he joined Cagliari before making his next permanent switch to Torino.

A regular in Italy’s youth teams, he was capped 21 times by Italy under-21s.

One to watch in the coming years.

What clubs are interested in Raoul Bellanova?

Manchester United have been reported by multiple Italian sources as to having scouted Bellanova on a number of occasions during the 2023-24 season.

United are planning to sign a new right back in the summer of 2024 and consider Bellanova as the ideal type of player for them.

Aston Villa also scouted Bellanova during the last game against Milan, according to Tuttosport.

Torino value Bellanova at €25 million.

Bellanova’s contract at Torino expires in June 2027.

How old is Raoul Bellanova?

Bellanova is 24 years old. He was born on 17 May 2000.