Simone Verdi

Simone Verdi (Italian pronunciation: [siˈmoːne ˈverdi]; born 12 July 1992) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Torino and the Italy national team.

Simone Verdi
Verdi warming up for Eibar in 2016
Personal information
Full name Simone Verdi
Date of birth (1992-07-12) 12 July 1992
Place of birth Broni, Italy
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Torino
Number 24
Youth career
Audax Travacò
2003–2011 Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Milan 0 (0)
2011–2015 Torino 16 (0)
2013 → Juve Stabia (loan) 20 (0)
2013–2015 → Empoli (loan) 66 (6)
2015–2016 Milan 0 (0)
2015–2016 → Eibar (loan) 9 (0)
2016 → Carpi (loan) 8 (3)
2016–2018 Bologna 62 (16)
2018–2020 Napoli 22 (3)
2019–2020 → Torino (loan) 33 (2)
2020– Torino 14 (1)
National team‡
2010–2011 Italy U19 8 (2)
2014–2015 Italy U21 3 (1)
2017– Italy 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:58, 9 January 2021 (UTC).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2018

Club career

Early career

Verdi started playing football with amateur club Audax Travacò, before joining Milan at the age of 11.[2]

He made his professional debut for the club, aged 17, in a Coppa Italia game against Novara, on 13 January 2010.[3] He then made his second appearance two weeks later, in the quarter-final against Udinese, which Milan lost 0–1.[4] While playing for the under-20 squad, the young striker scored his first goal at the San Siro in the return leg of the Primavera Cup final, on 14 April 2010. Milan went on to win the match 2–0, as Verdi also made an assist, and secured the trophy 3–1 on aggregate.[5][6] Here, he was nicknamed Verdinho, as his playing style resembled that of a Brazilian.[7]

In May 2010, Milan CEO Adriano Galliani announced that Verdi, along with three other teammates, was expected to join the senior team permanently for the 2010–11 season.[8] Subsequently, Verdi signed his first professional contract with the club.[9] However, he continued playing mainly in the youth team.[10]

Torino

At the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Verdi transferred to Serie B club Torino in a co-ownership deal for €2.5 million (exchanged with Gianmario Comi and €150,000 cash).[11][12][13] He made his official debut for the club in the first league game of the season, a 2–1 away win against Ascoli on 27 August 2011.[14] He played 12 games in Serie B in the 2011–12 season with Torino, which finished in 2nd place and gained promotion to Serie A.[15]

In 2012–13, he played 4 games in Serie A, making his official debut on 30 September 2012 as a substitute against Atalanta.[16]

Loans to Juve Stabia and Empoli

On 23 January 2013, he was loaned to Juve Stabia of Serie B for the remainder of the season.[15] In the summer of 2013 the co-ownership agreement between Milan and Torino was renewed for an additional year.[17]

For 2013–14, he was loaned to Empoli, in Serie B.[18] He played his first match for the Azzurri during the second round of Coppa Italia; won 5–1 against Südtirol, in which he also scored his first goal.[15] On 23 November 2013, he scored his first goal in Serie B, a 3–1 in a win away at Spezia.[19] He closed the season with 5 goals in 39 appearances, contributing to the promotion in Serie A of the Tuscans.[20]

On 18 June 2014, the co-ownership between Torino and Milan was renewed for a third year,[21] with Verdi loaned to Empoli again. He scored his first goal in Serie A on 7 December 2014, the momentary advantage away to Napoli, finishing 2–2. On 20 January 2015 he scored his first goal in Coppa Italia against A.S. Roma, lost in extra time.

Return to Milan

In June 2015, Milan and Torino could not agree on a co-ownership deal. Verdi's future was determined by a blind auction which Milan won. On 14 July 2015, he played in a pre-season friendly against Legnano and scored one goal.[22]

Loans to Eibar and Carpi

For the 2015–16 season he was loaned to SD Eibar with the Basque side having an option to buy.[23]

On 29 January 2016, Verdi was loaned to Carpi on a six-month deal.

Bologna

On 11 July 2016, Bologna completed the signing of Verdi.[24] During the first part of the season he had a strong impact with 4 goals in 9 games.

He signed a new four-year contract on 13 June 2017.[25] On 4 November 2017, he scored two times from 25-meter free kicks in a home game against Crotone, first time with his left and next time with his right foot.[26]

On 21 January Verdi was made captain of Bologna following his decision to decline a move to Napoli in the transfer window. His side beat Benevento 3–0 at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. [27]

Napoli

On 11 June 2018, Verdi signed a five-year contract with Napoli for €25 million.[28]

Return to Torino

On 2 September 2019, during the final minutes of the summer transfer window, Verdi was loaned to Torino for €3 million with an obligation to purchase of €20 million.[29]

International career

On 22 September 2010, he was called up to the Italy under-19 to play a game against the Serbia under-19.[30]

On 31 May 2014, he was called up to the Italy under-21 side[31] for which he made his debut on 4 June in the 4–0 friendly win over Montenegro.

On 28 March 2017, Verdi made his senior international debut for the Italy national football team, along with four other players, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 friendly away win against the Netherlands.[32]

Style of play

A dynamic and versatile forward or attacking midfielder, Verdi can adapt to any offensive midfield role, both in the centre or on either wing, due to his ambidexterity, although his favoured role is on the right flank; he is also capable of playing as a second striker. He is mainly noted for his dribbling ability, technique and remarkable speed on the ball, as well as his ability to create chances for teammates; he is also capable of finding spaces and make attacking runs from behind. In the 2016–17 Serie A season he was also noted for his shooting power and ability to score goals from long range, including free kicks.[1][33][34]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 January 2021.[35]

Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Milan 2009–10 002000—20
2010–11 000000—00
Total 002000—20
Torino 2011–12 12010——130
2012–13 4020——60
Total 16030——190
Juve Stabia (loan) 2012–13 200———200
Empoli (loan) 2013–14 40521——426
2014–15 26122——283
Total 66643——709
Eibar (loan) 2015–16 9041——131
Carpi (loan) 2015–16 83———83
Bologna 2016–17 28610——296
2017–18 341010——3510
Total 621620——6416
Napoli 2018–19 2230021—244
Total 2230021—244
Torino 2019–20 33210——342
2020–21 14112——153
Total 47322——495
Career Total 2803117621—29938

    International
    As of 4 June 2018[35]
    Italy national team
    YearAppsGoals
    201720
    201820
    Total40

    Honours

    Club

    Milan

    References
    1. "Simone Verdi" (in Italian). Bologna F.C. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
    2. "Esordienti Provinciali A 2003/2004". acmilan.com (in Italian). Associazione Calcio Milan. Archived from the original on 6 June 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
    3. "First Pippo, then Mathieu". acmilan.com. Associazione Calcio Milan. 13 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
    4. "Bitter elimination". acmilan.com. Associazione Calcio Milan. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
    5. This year the youth team are even better! (Web TV production). Associazione Calcio Milan. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
    6. "Il Milan del futuro vola con Verdi e Zigoni". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 15 April 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
    7. Maurizio Ferrari (3 August 2010). "Largo ai giovani". milannews.it (in Italian). Retrieved 4 August 2010.
    8. "Berlusconi non-molla, anche se Galliani capisce i tifosi: "Abituati a caviale e champagne"". goal.com (in Italian). 18 May 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
    9. Pietro Mazzara (13 July 2010). "Milan, Fossati ha firmato e Verdi passa al contratto professionistico". milannews.it (in Italian). Retrieved 4 August 2010.
    10. Pietro Mazzara (7 July 2010). "Per Verdi si profila una stagione tra Primavera e prima squadra". milannews.it (in Italian). Retrieved 4 August 2010.
    11. "Relazione e Bilancio al 31 Dicembre 2011" (PDF) (in Italian). A.C. Milan. 25 June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
    12. "Official A.C. Milan press release". acmilan.com. Associazione Calcio Milan. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
    13. "Verdi al Toro, Comi al Milan". torinofc.it (in Italian). Torino Football Club. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
    14. "Ascoli–Torino 1–2". torinofc.it (in Italian). Torino Football Club. 27 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
    15. "S. Verdi". soccerway.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
    16. "ATALANTA VS. TORINO 1 - 5". soccerway.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
    17. "UFFICIALE: Torino, rinnovate le comproprietà di Barreto, Verdi e Comi". mondopallone.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 April 2014.
    18. "UFFICIALE: Verdi in prestito all'Empoli". europacalcio.it. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
    19. "SPEZIA VS. EMPOLI 1 - 3". soccerway.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
    20. "Serie B 2013/14 Review – Week 42: Empoli Secure Serie A Return On Dramatic Last Day". forzaitalianfootball.com. Forzaitaliafootball. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
    21. "Milan, rinnovate le comproprietà di Verdi e Comi con il Torino". gazzettagranata.com (in Italian). Retrieved 19 June 2014.
    22. https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Milan/14-07-2015/milan-legnano-5-1-miha-va-ancora-sotto-rimonta-gol-anche-mastour-120560363196.shtml
    23. "El mediapunta Simone Verdi se incorpora al Eibar, cedido del AC Milán" [Attacking midfielder Simone Verdi joins Eibar, loaned from Milan] (in Spanish). Eibar's official website. 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
    24. "Bologna signs Verdi". Football Italia. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
    25. "Verdi signs contract extension". Bologna F.C. 1909. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    26. https://www.football-italia.net/112342/donadoni-bologna-blame
    27. http://www.italianfootballdaily.com/donadoni-players-decided-make-verdi-captain/
    28. "Official: Verdi signs for Napoli". Football Italia. 11 June 2018.
    29. http://torinofc.it/news/02/09/2019/verdi-al-toro_22511
    30. "Simone Verdi". figc.it (in Italian). Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
    31. "Under 21, la novità è Simone Verdi". gazzettagranata.com. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
    32. Valerio Clari (28 March 2017). "Olanda-Italia 1-2, Eder e Bonucci ribaltano l'autogol di Romagnoli" [Holland-Italy 1-2, Eder and Bonucci overturn Romagnoli's own goal] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
    33. Milannews Awards Archived 23 February 2014 at Archive.today
    34. Alessandro Cosattini (27 December 2017). "Verdi, a Bologna tutta la stagione per dimostrare di valere Napoli o Inter" (in Italian). www.calciomercato.com. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
    35. Simone Verdi at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
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