10 Things to Know about Gianluca Mancini

1. Gianluca Mancini was born in Pontedera on 17 April 1996, going on to grow up in nearby Montopoli – situated between Florence and Pisa. The Mancini family is relatively well-known in that area, with an apple-farming business.

2. It was in 2003 that Mancini made his first real steps in the game, when his talent was sported by the coach of a local team during a country fare. Then just seven years old, the coach of Valdarno Calcio asked Mancini’s father why Gianluca was not playing any organised football.

The father suggested he was too small, but the coach was not interested: “Either you bring him to my team or I will take him myself. This kid needs to play football.” From that point on Mancini was always playing, often deputising his sister as a goalkeeper for shooting practice near a wall at the family business.

3. Mancini developed quickly and was soon spotted by Fiorentina, who brought him into their youth setup. Mancini progressed all the way to the Primavera with La Viola; going from a central midfielder to a defender in the process as he developed both technically and tactically.

In total he spent nine years with the club, winning the national title with the Under-15s during that span.

4. While playing for Fiorentina’s Primavera Mancini began to attract the attention of the first team, with coach Vincenzo Montella calling him up to train with the senior group on a number of occasions. In the summer of 2014 Mancini started for the club in a friendly against Malaga, and went on to be involved in a few matchday squads for that season’s Europa League campaign.

5. By the following summer the time had come for Mancini to get experience in professional football elsewhere – Perugia took the chance on him, taking him on loan with the aim of helping him develop in Serie B.

Such a jump is never easy for young players, but Perugia believed in him and as that season progressed he would end up starting 11 straight games. His progress was obvious, persuading Perugia to make his move permanent. The following season Mancini added another 15 appearances, scoring twice – with Atalanta snapping him up midway through the campaign before loaning him back for the rest of the season.

6. The following campaign became Mancini’s launching pad: his Serie A debut came in September 2017, his first goal came in February 2018, and in total that season he made 11 appearances.

The next season he made 30 appearances under coach Gian Pieri Gasperini’s watchful eye, also making a number of appearances in the Europa League.

7. During his breakout 2018-19 Serie A campaign Mancini scored five goals – only Aleksandar Kolarov (eight) scored more goals from defence than Mancini last term.

8. Tall yet with a bit of filling out still to do, Mancini stands out for his ability in the air along with his speed and technique. A key figure for Italy at this summer’s European Under-21 Championship (he has made 13 appearances in total for the youth side), Mancini has already earned full international honours – making two appearances for his namesake (but no relation) Roberto Mancini’s side.

9. Mancini counts Marco Materazzi as one of his footballing idols, and the reason he has preferred to wear the No. 23 during his career (doing so at both Perugia and Atalanta). He also has the number tattooed on his body.

“I always admired Marco’s character and fighting spirit,” Mancini has said. “He was one of those players who always looked you square in the eye even when things were going badly. He inspired his teammates, you could always tell that.”

10. Mancini is on Instagram – he can be followed at @gianlumancio_23.