Everton told why Raoul Bellanova success would depend on David Moyes as multi-million bid made

David Moyes' current Everton system may not be an ideal fit for Raoul Bellanova, Goodison News has been told.

It's been no secret for some time now that Everton want to make an upgrade at their right-back position.

Centre-back by trade Jake O'Brien had his ups and downs there last season, whilst Nathan Patterson doesn't feel like a player Moyes trusts.

Bellanova's name has been strongly linked with a move to the Toffees this summer, with the 26-year-old having established himself as a quality player in Serie A with Atalanta.

The six-cap Italian international has been with the Bergamo-based side since the summer of 2024, and has the likes of AC and Inter Milan on his CV.

Given he would help address this area of Everton's squad, many Toffees fans are hoping to see him signed this summer, but is this a transfer fraught with danger?

What is the system Raoul Bellanova plays his best football in?

Goodison News has covered reports of Everton bidding £17million for Bellanova earlier this summer.

Contracted with Atalanta until the summer of 2029, they will no doubt be looking for a sizeable fee for the defender.

And, speaking exclusively with Goodison News, Italian football journalist and co-host of the Italian Football Podcast Nima Tavallaey has outlined why a move to Hill Dickinson Stadium may not suit his playing style.

"Can he be successful at Everton? I think in terms of explosive speed, acceleration and ability to attack the space, he's very much a Premier League player," Tavallaey said.

"His crossing is not the best. Technically he's good and he can beat his man, but that's not his strongest suit but he's not bad at it either.

"I think if he's utilised quickly and if Everton play more of a counter-attacking game, then I think he can be very useful."

As per Whoscored, Everton scored the joint-third most counter-attack goals in the Premier League in 2025-26 with five, and so this testimony would suggest Bellanova would tick a crucial box for the Toffees.

However, what Tavallaey says next is where the catch lies in all of this, and why Moyes may be forced to switch up his formation if he joins.

"It's also important to note that he's a wing-back. He’s not that much of a full-back," he continued.

"I don't think I've ever seen him do well in a back four. But if you play a back three and him as one of the wide players on the right, I think he can be very, very useful. Especially as a counter-attacking player."

Everton, of course, do pretty much exclusively play with a back four under Moyes, and so Bellanova could struggle to play his best football on Merseyside as a result.

The other concern with Bellanova is that he appeared to regress in 2025-26 compared to his debut season in Bergamo, but was this the case, and if so, why?

Evidence for Everton's Bellanova worry proven last season

Bellanova's debut 2024-25 season with Atalanta saw then-manager Gian Piero Gasperini exclusively play with his traditional back three system.

That term, Bellanova scored once and provided nine assists in 43 total appearances, but in 2025-26, he failed to find the net and registered just two assists from 36 outings respectively.

Atalanta went through two different managers last season, first Ivan Juric and then Raffaele Palladino respectively, and both of those coaches largely deployed back threes as well.

So then, why is that Bellanova struggled to replicate his debut season production last year? Tavallaey explains.

"Yes, he (Bellanova) did take a step back last season. He didn't get to play as much, and whenever he did play, he didn't really suit the system," he continued.

"But we have to also acknowledge the fact that last season Ivan Juric came, didn't turn out well and he was sacked. (Raffaele) Palladino came, it went better.

"But it was just one of those seasons where it just didn't work out for most of Atalanta, and that’s why they didn't make it to the Champions League either, which is something we'd expect or at least minimum Europa League.

"They're in the Conference League this season, which is good for Italian football because they have the European pedigree and experience to do well, but it wasn't a good season for Atalanta.

"And with Maurizio Sarri coming in, he doesn't really suit Sarri's football."

Overall then, Bellanova is evidently a talented player who, when given licence to get forward in a wing-back role, can be an extremely effective operator.

However, question marks over his suitability to play in a back four is an undeniable red flag for Everton, and there is now evidence showing that his production suffers when he doesn't fit the system he's playing in.

Perhaps, then, the Toffees should proceed with caution on this one, as unless Moyes is willing to shift to a back three, this might not be the wisest investment to make.