Roberto Piccoli Explained

Roberto Piccoli
Full Name:Roberto Piccoli
Birth Date:2001 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Bergamo, Italy
Height:1.90 m[1]
Currentclub:Cagliari
(on loan from Atalanta)
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:2011–2019
Youthclubs1:Atalanta
Years1:2019–
Clubs1:Atalanta
Caps1:15
Goals1:1
Years2:2020–2021
Clubs2:Spezia (loan)
Caps2:20
Goals2:5
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Genoa (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Hellas Verona (loan)
Caps4:7
Goals4:0
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Empoli (loan)
Caps5:15
Goals5:2
Years6:2023–2024
Clubs6:Lecce (loan)
Caps6:35
Goals6:5
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Cagliari (loan)
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:Italy U15
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016–2017
Nationalteam2:Italy U16
Nationalcaps2:14
Nationalgoals2:4
Nationalyears3:2018
Nationalteam3:Italy U18
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2018–2020
Nationalteam4:Italy U19
Nationalcaps4:22
Nationalgoals4:5
Nationalyears5:2021
Nationalteam5:Italy U21
Nationalcaps5:4
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:9 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:18:55, 16 November 2021 (UTC)

Roberto Piccoli (born 27 January 2001) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Cagliari, on loan from Atalanta.

Club career

Youth

Piccoli began playing football at the age of 10 for Tritium Calcio, which plays in the fourth division of Italian football. At the age of 13, Piccoli made a move to the Atalanta youth academy after being noticed by Maurizio Costanzi, head of Atalanta youth development. He would remain with Atalanta for the entirety of his youth career.[2]

Piccoli had a successful youth career while playing for Atalanta in the Campionato Primavera 1. In the 2018–19 season, Piccoli scored 14 goals in the league which eventually helped his Atalanta side lift the Campionato Primavera 1 trophy. Piccoli had a similar performance in the 2019–20 season where he scored a total of 7 goals in the league which eventually saw his Atalanta side lift the Campionato Primavera 1 title once again.[3]

Atalanta

He made his professional debut in a 0–0 Serie A tie with Empoli on 15 April 2019.[4]

Loan to Spezia Calcio

On 15 September 2020, he joined Spezia on a season-long loan.[5]

Piccoli scored his first goal for Spezia in a 1–2 loss on 20 December 2020 against Inter Milan.[6]

Return to Atalanta

On 21 August 2021, Piccoli came on as a substitute for Atalanta in an away match against Torino and scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute. This was his first goal for the Bergamo club in the top flight.[7] Piccoli made several more substitute appearances for Atalanta throughout the season, and was named in the starting lineup for the first time against Lazio on 22 January 2022.[8] Piccoli has made a total of 15 appearances for Atalanta in Serie A, while only scoring one goal for the Bergamo club.[9]

Loan to Genoa

Piccoli joined Genoa on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season after spending the first half of the season with Atalanta.[10]

Piccoli made his Genoa debut against Roma coming on as a substitute on 5 February 2022 in a 0–0 draw.[11] He made five appearances for Genoa during the remainder of the season, though did not score any goals.[12]

Loan to Hellas Verona

On 30 June 2022, Piccoli joined Hellas Verona on loan for the 2022–23 season.[12] [13]

Loan to Empoli

On 31 January 2023, Piccoli moved on loan to Empoli for one and a half seasons, with an option to buy for Empoli and counter-option to buy back for Atalanta.[14]

Loan to Lecce

On 31 August 2023, Piccoli's loan to Empoli was cut short and he moved on loan to Lecce instead, with an option to buy.[15]

International career

Youth

Roberto Piccoli made his first appearance in an international match when he came on as a substitute for the Italy U15 team in a friendly match against England U15 on 24 April 2016, in which the Italians were defeated 2–3.[16]

With the Italy U19 squad he took part in the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. While qualifying for the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Roberto Piccoli scored two goals in a 2–0 victory against the Serbian U19's on 26 March 2019.[17] Piccoli's U-19 side was knocked out in the group stage of the tournament after suffering defeats to both Portugal U19 and Spain U19.[18]

On 3 September 2021 he made his debut with the Italy U21 squad, playing as a starter in the qualifying match won 3–0 against Luxembourg.[19] Roberto Piccoli's last appearance for the Italy U21 squad was on 16 November 2021, playing as a starter in a friendly match won 4–2 against Romania U21.[20]

Senior

Roberto Piccoli has yet to make his senior debut for the Italy national team.

Career statistics

[21]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atalanta2018–19Serie A20000020
2019–2010000010
2021–221210000121
Total151000000151
Spezia (loan)2020–21Serie A20531236
Genoa (loan)2021–22Serie A5050
Hellas Verona (loan)2022–23Serie A701080
Empoli (loan)2022–23Serie A132132
2023–24Serie A201030
Total152100000162
Lecce (loan)2023–24Serie A31511326
Cagliari (loan)2024–25Serie A000000
Career total93136200009915

Style of play

Regarded as a talented young prospect, Piccoli is a player with good technique and a tall stature of 193 centimeters, while mostly being deployed as a center-forward. His height allows him to be dangerous in the air. Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta's head coach, describes Roberto Piccoli as great young talent who is a harder worker and a player that brings great value to the team.[22]

Piccoli describes himself as a center-forward who loves to exploit the depth of the defense, while being technically gifted but also explaining he can still improve in that area. Piccoli has said that he is inspired by the likes of Duván Zapata and Mario Mandžukić.[23]

Personal life

On 22 January 2021, Piccoli met Pope Francis.[24]

Piccoli has a passion for cycling, which he uses to maintain fitness.[25]

Honors

Atalanta

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Roberto Piccoli . it . Hellas Verona FC . 17 September 2022.
  2. Web site: 2021-08-24. Piccoli, la bicicletta per mantenersi in forma e segnare valanghe di gol. 2022-02-04. La Giovane Italia. it-IT.
  3. Web site: Archivio Lega Serie A. 2022-01-28. www.legaseriea.it. it.
  4. Web site: Atalanta vs. Empoli - 15 April 2019 - Soccerway. Soccerway.
  5. Roberto Piccoli per l'attacco delle Aquile. 15 September 2020. 15 September 2020. Spezia. it.
  6. Web site: Internazionale v Spezia Match Report, 12/20/20, Serie A Goal.com. 2022-01-28. www.goal.com.
  7. Web site: TORINO – ATALANTA – 2021-2022. 2021-08-24. Atalanta. en-US.
  8. News: Serie A, Lazio–Atalanta 0–0, pagelle: Demiral un drago, Luis Alberto invisibile, Gasperini disinnesca Sarri . Eurosport . it . 22 January 2022 . 25 January 2022.
  9. Web site: Player - ROBERTO PICCOLI Lega Serie A. 2022-01-28. www.legaseriea.it. en.
  10. Web site: ROBERTO PICCOLI È ROSSOBLÙ – Genoa Cricket and Football Club – Official Website. 2022-01-28.
  11. Web site: Match Report 2021-22 24ª Match Day Lega Serie A. 2022-02-07. www.legaseriea.it. en.
  12. News: Verona, ufficiale Piccoli: arriva in prestito dall'Atalanta . 30 June 2022 . 12 July 2022 . it.
  13. Web site: Hellas Verona. Un nuovo attaccante per l’Hellas Verona: benvenuto, Roberto Piccoli!. 30 June 2022. 30 June 2022. it.
  14. Web site: Empoli F.C.. Roberto Piccoli è un nuovo calciatore azzurro. 31 January 2023. 31 January 2023. it.
  15. Web site: Lecce. PICCOLI È UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DEL LECCE. PICCOLI IS A NEW LECCE PLAYER. 31 August 2023. 31 August 2023. it.
  16. Web site: Roberto Piccoli of Italy U15 competes with Bukayio Saka of England.... 2022-02-15. Getty Images. en-gb.
  17. Web site: Serbia U19 vs. Italy U19 - 26 March 2019 - Soccerway. 2022-01-28. us.soccerway.com.
  18. Web site: UEFA.com. 2019-07-27. Under-19 EURO 2019: all the highlights. 2022-01-28. UEFA.com. en.
  19. Web site: Esordio con vittoria per la nuova Italia. Nicolato: "Ho visto un grande impegno, ma dobbiamo lavorare". 3 September 2021. 3 September 2021. figc.it. it.
  20. Web site: Italy U21 vs. Romania U21 - Football Match Summary - November 16, 2021 - ESPN. 2022-01-28. ESPN.com. en.
  21. Web site: R. Piccoli. Soccerway.
  22. Web site: Atalanta, Gasp lancia Piccoli: "Mi ispiro a Zapata e Mandzukic". 21 January 2022. La Gazzetta dello Sport. it.
  23. Web site: Atalanta, Gasp lancia Piccoli: "Mi ispiro a Zapata e Mandzukic". 21 January 2022. La Gazzetta dello Sport. it.
  24. Web site: Roberto Piccoli Instagram. 4 February 2022. Instagram.
  25. Web site: Roberto Piccoli, l'ultimo talento di Zingonia. 2 May 2019. 4 February 2022. Sky Sport. it.
  26. Web site: Archivio Lega Serie A. 2022-01-23. www.legaseriea.it. it.
  27. Web site: Supercoppa Primavera TIM on 21/1 in Bergamo. 2022-01-21. Atalanta. en-US.
  28. Web site: UEFA Youth League in numbers. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 25 August 2020.
  29. News: 3 March 2022. Darwin e Gonçalo Ramos Galardoados. Darwin and Gonçalo Ramos Awarded. pt. A Bola. 4 March 2022.
  30. Web site: Piccoli wins the Italian Golden Boy 2021. 2022-01-23. Atalanta. en-US.
  31. Web site: Golden Boy award: Pedri, Bellingham and Reyna among 20-player shortlist Goal.com. 2022-01-21. www.goal.com.