2. Giulio Donati
Rouven Schröder’s Mainz 05 side currently sit at 11th in the table but have impressed in occasional spurts of classic Mainz-esque intensity this season. On the right side of their defence a 27-year-old Italian has particularly caught the eye.
Giulio Donati joined the club in the summer after steady spells with Leverkusen and Inter Milan as well as Italy’s U21s. He is a strong, composed figure in Mainz’s defence and only this week featured in Bundesliga’s team of the week for his performance against his old side Leverkusen in a 2-0 away win at the weekend. Uncommonly for a modern full back, his defensive qualities are his greatest and he is known to throw himself in front of opposition shots in a typically Ginge-esque fashion.
Donati would be a cheap option for Slaven Bilic and could easily become yet another Italian fan favourite in east London.
