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Back in 2014, Leeds United signed Tommaso Bianchi on a free from Sassuolo, where the centre-back stayed for two years before returning to Italy to Ascoli following a six-month loan.

He made 26 appearances for the Elland Road side during that time period, and while he didn’t contribute greatly, he did get the chance to meet a certain Kalvin Phillips, who was starting to break through at the now Championship side.

With Juventus now interested in signing the former Leeds man from Manchester City to bolster their midfield, Tutto Juve spoke to Bianchi about his ex-teammate, wanted him to answer a set of questions about the 27-year-old.

Asked initially what he remembered about the England international, he said: “I remember Kalvin’s debut in the first-team, I was also present in that Leeds team. He was part of four to five boys from the Academy who, little by little, managed to play on a permanent basis with us. Right from the start, his qualities were evident, but I didn’t think he could reach this level.

“I was very impressed by his physicality, he was already well built as a 17-year-old. He was very calm, he didn’t feel the pressure at all, and he had a great shot.”

Bianchi went on to explain the Leeds youth academy graduate would now be the right man for Juventus to sign in January, labelling him a ‘top player’ in the process, despite his issues at his current club.

As for his ‘Pirlo from Yorkshire’ nickname, which he was given at Elland Road, Bianchi muses that he isn’t quite there yet, and despite his progress over the years, especially under Marcelo Bielsa, reaching the former Italy star’s level is ‘unattainable’.

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