Nicolò Casale, born 14 February 1998 (age 28), is an Italian central defender with Bologna. A tall 6ft 3in (1.91m) defender, he has built his career in Italy rather than taking the scenic route around Europe.
Casale’s clearest early marker came at Empoli in 2020-2021, when he made 24 league appearances and scored once. For a centre-back, that was enough to stand as his most productive league season in front of goal, which says more about the job description than any lack of ambition.
He is now at Bologna, where he has been used across domestic and European football in 2025-2026. He has made 12 Serie A appearances and a further six in the Europa League, taking him to 18 appearances in all competitions without a goal.
His current market value is around £4.5m, according to Transfermarkt. Casale’s career to this point is that of an established Italian defender: steady Serie A work, some European involvement, and no great need for embellishment.
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