Those that left Italy for England and did well.
Italy and England hasn’t always gone hand-in-hand in the footballing world, with current Liverpool flop Mario Balotelli surprisingly the only Italian ever to have won the Premier League title.
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Yet over the years clubs from the English top tier have made some superb purchases from Serie A and here are the seven best.
7. Roberto di Matteo – Lazio to Chelsea, 1996
During a six-year career with the Blues just before Roman Abramovich injected all his millions the Italian won six major trophies with the West Londoners – including two FA Cups – and would later manage them to Champions League glory in 2012.
6. Marcel Desailly – AC Milan to Chelsea, 1998
Another Blue now who was famed at Stamford Bridge before their finances greatly increased and captain John Terry greatly credits this Frenchman for shaping his own career.
5. Edwin van der Sar – Juventus to Fulham, 2001
Had already enjoyed success with Ajax before his career was going stale in Turin and the Cottagers made the inspired decision to bring him to West London, before van der Sar later went onto win every trophy going with Manchester United.
4. Gianfranco Zola – Parma to Chelsea, 1996
Signed from Italy at the same time as national compatriot di Matteo, but would go onto be thought of in a much higher regard as the little forward dazzled English crowds and won the hearts of the home support.
3. Dennis Bergkamp -Inter Milan to Arsenal, 1995
Was already at Highbury when Arsene Wenger arrived in 1996, but it is the Frenchman who is credited with reviving Bergkamp’s career and the attacker would go onto spend 11 years at the club and win three league titles and four FA Cups.
2. Patrick Vieira – AC Milan to Arsenal, 1996
Those that claim that Wenger’s teams don’t have physicality need look no further than this ex-midfielder, who as captain of the Gunners was a force to be reckoned with – as Roy Keane will attest to.
1. Thierry Henry – Juventus to Arsenal, 1999
Wenger had a real eye for poaching failing talent from the Italian top tier and this was perhaps his greatest move, turning Henry from a pacey – but ineffective – winger into arguably the best striker the league has ever seen.