Sandro Tonali: Pirlo 2.0?

Iconic footballers either leave their mark on football by exhibiting unforgettable performances in crucial matches, or by putting in a shift week in and week out, or by some combination of the two. These players have distinctive skills, distinctive ways of playing the game, and sometimes, distinctive appearances.

With his graceful long pass, his viciously lethal 'Maledetta,' his masterful control of the game, and his flowing locks of hair, Andrea Pirlo is one of the most iconic players Italy has ever produced. But what if there was another player from the same region as him, who emerged from the same youth system, who played in the same role, and who possessed the same hairstyle?

 There is no need for anyone to imagine if such a person exists. Brescia, the club which produced Pirlo, currently possesses a starlet that is as close to a Pirlo clone as anyone could get.

Sandro Tonali is yet to reach the lofty heights that “L’Architetto” ascended to in his prime, but the resemblances in playing style and appearance are remarkable, even if he is yet to grow a beard like the former midfield maestro did during his time at Juventus.