Kaas Oudenthal: From fifth defender in US Sassuolo's plans to Serie A surprise

Dutch defender Kas Odenthal has experienced a remarkable turnaround in his career with US Sassuolo, having been a candidate to leave the team during the summer transfer window and return to Serie B, amid interest from Modena and Sampdoria in signing him, before he decided to stay and prove his ability to compete.

Odental was not among Alberto Aquilani's first choices at the start of the season, as he knew he was in fifth place in the defenders' ranking. However, he continued to work hard during training, waiting for his chance to prove his worth to participate in Serie A, after years of playing in the second division.

The opportunity the Dutch defender had been waiting for came as he made a notable start, scoring two goals in two matches against Atalanta and Milan, at a rate of one goal every 77 minutes. He has become one of the standout surprises for US Sassuolo, reshaping the team's dynamics thanks to his performances and crucial goals.

Thus, Odental has succeeded in turning the expectations around through hard work away from the spotlight, responding on the pitch to the doubters of his ability to play in Serie A, confirming that performance is the true deciding factor in football.