Manuel Locatelli

Manuel Locatelli Cavaliere OMRI (born 8 January 1998) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie A club Juventus and the Italy national team.

Manuel Locatelli

Locatelli playing for Juventus in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Manuel Locatelli^[1]
Date of birth	(1998-01-08) 8 January 1998 (age 26)^[2]
Place of birth	Lecco, Italy
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Juventus
Number	5
Youth career
2007–2009	Atalanta
2009–2016	AC Milan
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	AC Milan	48	(2)
2018–2019	→ Sassuolo (loan)	29	(2)
2019–2023	Sassuolo	67	(4)
2021–2023	→ Juventus (loan)	63	(3)
2023–	Juventus	22	(1)
International career^‡
2013	Italy U15	5	(0)
2014	Italy U16	2	(0)
2013–2015	Italy U17	25	(1)
2015–2016	Italy U19	16	(1)
2017–2019	Italy U21	23	(2)
2020–	Italy	26	(3)
Medal record Men's Football Representing  Italy UEFA European Championship Winner 2020 Europe UEFA Nations League 2021 Italy UEFA European Under-19 Championship Runner-up 2016 Germany CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions Runner-up 2022 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:36, 4 February 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 October 2023

After coming through the club's youth system, Locatelli made his professional debut with AC Milan, helping them win the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana. He moved to Sassuolo in 2018, before joining Juventus in 2021.

Locatelli represents Italy internationally, participating in Italy's victorious UEFA Euro 2020 campaign.

Club career

Early career

Locatelli began his career with Atalanta, before moving to AC Milan at the age of 11 years.^[3][4] With the Rossoneri he progressed through each youth category, from Esordienti to Primavera. In March 2015, Locatelli signed his first professional contract with Milan, effective from 1 July 2015 until 30 June 2018.^[5][6][7][8]

AC Milan

Locatelli received his first ever call-up to Milan's senior team ahead of the away game against Udinese played on 22 September 2015; he, however, remained an unused substitute. Later that season, he was promoted into the first team by the then Milan head coach Siniša Mihajlović.^[9] He made his Serie A debut aged 18, on 21 April 2016, replacing Andrea Poli after 87 minutes in a 0−0 home draw against Carpi.^[10] On 14 May 2016 he made his debut as a starter, in the last league match of the season against Roma at the San Siro.^[11]

2016–17 season

He made his season debut in a 1–0 victory over Sampdoria appearing as a second-half substitute.^[12] On 2 October 2016, after coming on as a substitute for captain Riccardo Montolivo, Locatelli scored his first Serie A goal with his first ever shot, in a dramatic 4–3 win over Sassuolo. Beginning the season on the bench, Locatelli received his first start of the season on 16 October at Chievo, taking over the deep-lying playmaker role in midfield vacated by Montolivo, who suffered a long-term injury over the international break.^[13] On 22 October, Locatelli scored with his second ever Serie A shot on target, the only goal in a rival match against Juventus, a strike with the outside of his right foot that hit the underside of the crossbar, and rifled past keeper Gianluigi Buffon.^[14]

Following a series of excellent performances, Locatelli received and accepted the offer to extend his contract until 30 June 2020, with the rise in pay.^[15]

On 25 January 2017, Locatelli was sent off for the first time of his career after receiving two yellow cards in 2016–17 Coppa Italia Quarter Final match against Juventus.^[16]

2017–18 season

Locatelli began the season as a starter in the second leg of Milan's Europa League qualification match against CS U Craiova, playing a vital role in Milan's 2–0 win on 3 August 2017.^[17] However, Montolivo's eventual recovery combined with the arrival of Lucas Biglia and frequent changes of formation under Vincenzo Montella started to limit his playing time. In November 2017, Montella was dismissed and replaced by Gennaro Gattuso who also viewed Locatelli as more of a backup for either Biglia or Montolivo than a starting lineup player. He finished the season with only 15 starts (of which only 5 were in Serie A) and 18 sub-ins.

Sassuolo

In the summer of 2018, Milan loaned in Tiémoué Bakayoko and suggested that Locatelli joins one of the lower-ranking Serie A teams on loan, preferably without a buy-out option. Locatelli agreed to depart yet submitted a full transfer request, later citing a perceived lack of trust in him from the club as the main reason for his decision.^[18][19] On 13 August 2018, Locatelli transferred to Sassuolo on loan with an obligation to buy.^[20] In his debut season for the neroverdi he made 31 appearances and scored 3 goals (against Catania in Coppa Italia and Cagliari and Chievo Verona in Serie A).^[21][22][23]

Juventus

On 18 August 2021, Juventus announced the signing of Locatelli on an initial two-year loan, with Juventus holding an obligation to then purchase the player for €25 million payable over three years plus €12.5 million in potential add-ons.^[24] At Juventus, Locatelli reunited with Massimiliano Allegri, who had once been the head coach of Milan and called up Locatelli to train with the senior team in 2013 aged 15.^[25]

On 22 August, Locatelli debuted for Juventus in a 2–2 draw against Udinese, coming on as a substitute in the 90th minute.^[26] On 26 September, Locatelli scored his first goal for Juventus, the winning goal of a 3–2 home win over Sampdoria.^[27] In the 86th minute of play, he scored the lone goal of a 1–0 win against Derby della Mole rivals Torino on 2 October.^[28]

On 22 October 2023, exactly seven years since the 1–0 home win for Milan against Juventus in the 2016–17 Serie A, courtesy of the goal by Locatelli, he faced Milan as an opponent and scored the only goal for Juventus in the 1–0 win at San Siro.^[29]

On 9 November 2023, Locatelli signed a five-year contract extension with Juventus.^[30]

International career

Youth

Locatelli was part of the Italy U17 team at the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He also took part in the 2016 Under-19 Championship with the under-19 side, as Italy finished runners-up.^[31]

Locatelli made his debut with the Italy U21 team on 23 March 2017, in a friendly 2–1 win against Poland. In June 2017, he was included in the Italy under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Luigi Di Biagio.^[32] Italy were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals on 27 June, following a 3–1 defeat.^[33]

Locatelli additionally took part in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.^[34]

Senior

Locatelli made his debut with the senior Italy squad on 7 September 2020, playing as a starter in a 1–0 UEFA Nations League victory against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.^[35][36] On 28 March 2021, Locatelli scored his first goal for Italy, the second of a 2–0 away win over Bulgaria in a 2022 World Cup qualification match.^[37]

In June 2021, Locatelli was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini.^[38] On 16 June, he scored two goals in Italy's second group stage match, a 3–0 win against Switzerland.^[39] Although he started in Italy's first two group games of the tournament, he was later relegated to the bench following the recovery of the injured Marco Verratti.^[40] On 6 July, in the semi-final of the competition against Spain, Locatelli came on as a substitute for Nicolò Barella late in the second half of regulation time; following a 1–1 draw after extra-time, he took Italy's first spot-kick in resulting shoot-out, which was saved by Unai Simón, although Italy ultimately advanced to the final 4–2 on penalties.^[41] On 11 July, Locatelli won the European Championship with Italy following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1–1 draw in extra-time; Locatelli made a substitute appearance during the final, coming on for Verratti in the first half of extra-time.^[42]

Style of play

Locatelli is primarily deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, usually operating in an attacking role in front of the team's defence, in a position similar to that of his idol Andrea Pirlo, due to his ability to create chances or dictate the tempo of his team's play in midfield with his passing range. A versatile midfielder, he can also play in a box-to-box role, or as a mezzala in a 4–3–3 formation, although this is not his preferred position; he has occasionally even been used as an attacking midfielder, a position in which he was initially fielded in his youth, before being moved into a deeper midfield role.

While not particularly fast, he is an elegant and quick-thinking player, who possesses excellent vision, passing, ball control, technique, and dribbling skills, as well as a powerful and accurate shot from long range. His reading of the game, defensive work-rate, tactical intelligence, and ball-winning abilities are also optimal for a defensive midfielder. His playing style has been compared to that of Argentine midfielder Fernando Redondo, but with more of an offensive mindset, due to his ability to make late attacking runs off the ball from behind; he has also been likened to other playmakers such as Xavi, Zinedine Zidane, and Demetrio Albertini.^[3][4][43] Not long before Locatelli signed with Juventus, former long-term club player Alessio Tacchinardi compared him to himself and Antonio Conte, calling Locatelli a mix of both.^[44] Considered to be a promising young player, in 2015 The Guardian named him one of the 50 best young players in the world born in 1998.^[45]

Personal life

On 21 June 2022, he married Thessa Lachovic.^[46] On 16 October, his wife announced she had been pregnant.^[47]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 February 2024^[48][49]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Coppa Italia		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Milan	2015–16	Serie A	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2016–17	Serie A	25	2	2	0	—		1^[a]	0	28	2
	2017–18	Serie A	21	0	3	0	9^[b]	0	—		33	0
	Total		48	2	5	0	9	0	1	0	63	2
Sassuolo (loan)	2018–19	Serie A	29	2	2	1	—		—		31	3
Sassuolo	2019–20	Serie A	33	0	1	0	—		—		34	0
	2020–21	Serie A	34	4	0	0	—		—		34	4
	Total		67	4	1	0	—		—		99	7
Juventus (loan)	2021–22	Serie A	31	3	4	0	7^[c]	0	1^[a]	0	43	3
	2022–23	Serie A	32	0	4	0	13^[d]	0	—		49	0
Juventus	2023–24	Serie A	22	1	2	0	—		—		24	1
	Total		85	4	10	0	20	0	1	0	116	4
Career total			229	12	18	1	29	0	2	0	278	13

1. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
4. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 14 October 2023^[49][50]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Italy	2020	6	0
	2021	14	3
	2022	4	0
	2023	2	0
Total		26	3

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Locatelli goal^[51]

List of international goals scored by Manuel Locatelli

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 March 2021	Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria	8	Bulgaria	2–0	2–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	16 June 2021	Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy	12	Switzerland	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2020
3					2–0

Honours

AC Milan

• Supercoppa Italiana: 2016^[49]

Italy U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2016^[52]

Italy

• UEFA European Championship: 2020^[42]
• UEFA Nations League third place: 2020–21^[53]

Individual

• Premio Bulgarelli Number 8: 2020^[54]

Orders

• Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: 2021^[55]

References

1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 60" [Official Statement No. 60] (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 9 October 2018. p. 3. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
2. "Manuel Locatelli: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
3. "Giovani talenti: Locatelli, la grande speranza Milan che studia da Xavi" (in Italian). calciomercato.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
4. Simone Gambino (2 October 2016). "Manuel Locatelli: il regista del Milan del futuro, sulle orme di Donnarumma" (in Italian). Goal.com. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
5. "AC Milan News - Ultime notizie e aggiornamenti live Milan". AC Milan.
6. "UFFICIALE: rinnovati i contratti dei giovani Llamas, Locatelli e Cutrone". Milan News.
7. "A.C MILAN COMUNICATO UFFICIALE: Donnarumma, Cutrone e Locatelli rinnovano fino al 2018". Milan News.
8. "Gigio, Loca e Terminator: il Milan blinda la colonna vertebrale del futuro. E a luglio..." Milan News.
9. "Milan, Mihajlovic promuove il 17enne Locatelli: esordio in vista?". 25 November 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
10. "Milan vs. Carpi - 21 April 2016 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
11. "Milan-Roma 1-3: Salah-El Shaarawy-Emerson, a Brocchi resta la Coppa Italia". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
12. "Sampdoria 0-1 AC Milan: Carlos Bacca scores winner for visitors". Sky Sport. 16 September 2016.
13. Paul, Sumeet (12 October 2016). "With Montolivo injured, is it time for Milan to start Locatelli?". ESPN FC.
14. Rathborn, Jack (22 October 2016). "AC Milan wonderkid Manuel Locatelli scores screamer to down Juventus A winner GOAL from Locatelli". Mirror.
15. Letizia, Benito (3 October 2016). "Milan News: rinnova Locatelli, il numero 73 al 73' | StadioSport.it".
16. "Calendario e Risultati | Stagione 2016-17 | Quarti" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
17. "Player Ratings: Milan 2-0 Craiova". Football Italia. 3 August 2017.
18. "Locatelli: 'AC Milan didn't believe in me'". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale.
19. "Milan: as Chelsea's Bakayoko inches closer, Locatelli could join Sassuolo". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale.
20. "Official statement: Manuel Locatelli". acmilan.com. Associazione Calcio Milan. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
21. "Coppa Italia | Sassuolo-Catania 2-1 Highlights" – via www.youtube.com.
22. "Sassuolo-Cagliari 3-0 | Highlights 2018/19" – via www.youtube.com.
23. "Sassuolo-Chievo 4-0 | Highlights 2018/19" – via www.youtube.com.
24. Juventus.com. "Official: Locatelli joins Juventus! - Juventus". Juventus.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
25. "Matri: «Locatelli e Pogba i migliori talenti che ho avuto come compagni»". 19 August 2021.
26. Munno, Mauro (22 August 2021). "Udinese-Juve 2-2: gli errori di Szczesny condannano al pari". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 23 August 2021.
27. Baridon, Marco (26 September 2021). "Juve Sampdoria 3-2: Dybala, Bonucci e Locatelli per il successo di misura". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 26 September 2021.
28. Ronchi, Stefano (2 October 2021). "Serie A, Torino-Juve 0–1: Locatelli decide il derby della Mole". Sportmediaset (in Italian). Retrieved 3 October 2021.
29. "Milan Vs Juventus".
30. "Manuel Locatelli renews until 2028!". Juventus. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
31. "Finale Europeo Under 19, Francia-Italia 4-0: Augustin, Blas, Tousart e Diop". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
32. "U21: Italy squad for Euros named". Football Italia. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
33. James Horncastle (28 June 2017). "Italy fall to familiar foe Spain at U21 Euros but there is hope for the future". ESPN FC. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
34. "Parte l'avventura europea: Di Biagio ufficializza la lista dei 23 Azzurrini". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. 6 June 2019.
35. "Archived copy". Retrieved 6 September 2020.
36. "Netherlands-Italy | UEFA Nations League". Retrieved 7 September 2020.
37. "Bulgaria 0-2 Italy: Azzurri conquer Sofia". Football Italia. 28 March 2021.
38. "Mancini names uncapped striker Raspadori in final Italy Euro 2020 squad". Reuters. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
39. "Italy 3–0 Switzerland". BBC Sport. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
40. The Athletic Staff (26 June 2021). "Manuel Locatelli left out by Italy against Austria in favour of Marco Verratti". The Athletic. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
41. "Italy beat Spaiyn on penalties to reach final". BBC Sport. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
42. McNulty, Phil (11 July 2021). "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
43. Other sources:
    • "Milan, finalmente è scoccata l'ora di Locatelli: "Ho realizzato il mio sogno"" (in Italian). www.goal.com. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
    • "De Zerbi ha fatto crescere Locatelli" (in Italian). L'Ultimo Uomo. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
    • Horncastle, James (10 September 2020). "Locatelli glides in glimpse of future for Italy". The Athletic. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
    • "Juve, senti Marchisio: "Pogba o Locatelli? Io vedrei bene..."". corrieredellosport.it (in Italian). 4 February 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
    • "New AC Milan Hero Manuel Locatelli Aims to Emulate Club Legend". 90min.com. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
    • "Six potential Euro 2020 game-changers to keep an eye on". TSN. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
    • "Juventus, adesso Locatelli non è più un Piano B" (in Italian). Sport Mediaset. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
    • Zanon, Federico (2 November 2020). "Locatelli, rimpianto Juve: oggi è uno dei centrocampisti più completi d'Italia" (in Italian). Calciomercato.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
44. "Tacchinardi: "Locatelli è un mix tra me e Conte. E con Allegri si completerà"" (in Italian). gazzetta.it. 13 August 2021.
45. "Next Generation 2015: 50 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
46. JuventusNews24, Redazione (21 June 2022). "Matrimonio Locatelli: il centrocampista della Juve si è sposato con la sua Thessa – FOTO". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
47. "Locatelli, derby d'amore: dalla proposta al dolce annuncio". tuttosport.com (in Italian). 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
48. "Giocatore - Manuel Locatelli" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
49. "M. Locatelli". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
50. "Locatelli, Manuel" (in Italian). FIGC. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
51. "Manuel Locatelli". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). Retrieved 13 October 2016.
52. "France U19 vs. Italy U19 - Football Match Summary - July 24, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
53. "Italy 2-1 Belgium: Azzurri secure third place at Nations League finals". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
54. "A Locatelli e Mancini il Premio Bulgarelli Number 8". Corriere dello Sport – Stadio (in Italian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
55. "Mattarella ha conferito onorificenze motu proprio ai giocatori e allo staff della Nazionale vincitrice del campionato europeo" (in Italian). quirinale.it. 16 July 2021.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manuel Locatelli.

• Manuel Locatelli at the Juventus F.C. website
• Manuel Locatelli at Lega Serie A
• Manuel Locatelli FIGC Profile (in Italian)
• Manuel Locatelli – UEFA competition record ()