Giacomo Faticanti (born 31 July 2004) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie C Group C club Juventus Next Gen, on loan from Serie A club Lecce.

Giacomo Faticanti
Giacomo Faticanti with Italy under-19 in 2023
Personal information
Full name Giacomo Faticanti[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-31) 31 July 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Sora, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Juventus Next Gen
(on loan from Lecce)
Number 73
Youth career
Atletico Sora
2010–2018 Frosinone
2018–2023 Roma
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Roma 0 (0)
2023– Lecce 0 (0)
2024Ternana (loan) 11 (0)
2024–Juventus Next Gen (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2019 Italy U15 4 (0)
2019–2020 Italy U16 12 (1)
2021 Italy U18 1 (0)
2021–2023 Italy U19 22 (0)
2022– Italy U20 11 (1)
2024– Italy U21 2 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Italy
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up 2023 Argentina
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2023 Malta
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 August 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023

In 2021, he was included in The Guardian's yearly list of the 60 best talents born in 2004 in world football.[2]

Club career

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Roma

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Born and raised in Sora,[3][4] Faticanti started playing football at local club Atletico Sora,[3][5] before joining the academy of Frosinone,[5][6] and then moving to AS Roma's youth sector in 2018.[6][7]

Here, he won both the under-15 and under-17 national titles, respectively, in 2019 and 2021.[5][6] Having already started featuring for the under-19 team in 2021,[7][8] the midfielder became a regular starter of the squad throughout the 2021-22 season.[6][9]

In the summer of 2022, Faticanti began training with the first team, under manager José Mourinho, during their pre-season.[10] In August of the same year, he signed a contract extension with the club until 2026,[11][12] before making his first bench appearances for Roma's senior team.[2][13]

On 27 October 2022, Faticanti made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute for Cristian Volpato in the 78th minute of the UEFA Europa League match against HJK, which ended in a 2–1 win for his side.[14][15] In April 2023, he was part of Roma's under-19 squad that won the Coppa Italia Primavera.[16][17]

Lecce

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On 25 August 2023, Faticanti joined Serie A side Lecce on a permanent deal, signing a five-year contract with the club.[18][19] The transfer reportedly commanded a €1 million fee, plus add-ons, and a 35% sell-on clause in favor of Roma.[20]

Loan to Ternana

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On 8 January 2024, Faticanti joined Serie B side Ternana on loan until the end of the season.[21][22] On 20 January, he made his first professional start in a 3–1 league win over Cittadella.[23][24] He played 11 games for the club,[25] with Ternana eventually facing relegation to Serie C after losing to Bari in the play-out.[26]

Loan to Juventus Next Gen

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On 30 August 2024, Faticanti joined Serie C side Juventus Next Gen, the reserve team of Juventus, on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[25][27]

International career

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Faticanti has represented Italy at various youth international levels.

Having first played for the under-15 national team,[7] he featured regularly with the under-16 team,[28][29] before going on to play for the under-18,[8] under-19[30] and under-20 national teams.[31] He also served as a captain for several of these sides.[6]

In June 2022, he was included in the squad that took part in the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Slovakia,[32] where the Azzurrini reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners England.[33]

In December of the same year, he was involved in a training camp led by the Italian senior national team's manager, Roberto Mancini, as part of a stage aimed to the most promising national talents.[34]

In May 2023, he was included by head coach Carmine Nunziata in the Italian squad that took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina,[35] where the Azzurrini finished runners-up after losing to Uruguay in the final match.[36][37]

In June of the same year, he was included in the Italian squad for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Malta,[38] where the Azzurrini eventually won their second continental title.[39][40]

Style of play

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Faticanti is mainly a defensive midfielder, who has been regarded for his reading of the game, his aerial skills and his tackling.[8][28] He can also act as a deep-lying playmaker, thanks to his ability to dictate the tempo and his wide range of passing.[8][41] Moreover, his stamina, work rate and leadership skills led him to wear the captain armband of his side in various occasions.[2][6]

Although he named Sergio Busquets between his sources of inspiration,[28] the Italian player has also been compared to Daniele De Rossi, who played in his same role and similarly started his career at AS Roma.[6][8]

In 2021, he was included in The Guardian's yearly list of the 60 best talents born in 2004 in world football.[2]

Career statistics

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As of match played 23 May 2024[42]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Roma 2022–23 Serie A 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Lecce 2023–24 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ternana (loan) 2023–24 Serie B 11 0 0 0 11 0
Career total 11 0 0 0 1 0 12 0

Honours

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Roma U19

Italy U20

Italy U19

References

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  1. ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Italy (ITA)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 14. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Christenson, Marcus; Bandini, Nicky. "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b "La Roma Under 17 conquista lo scudetto grazie anche al sorano Faticanti". Casilina News (in Italian). 2 July 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  4. ^ Salines, Alessandro (22 June 2022). "Ciak si gira l'Europeo, il regista è il sorano Giacomo Faticanti". AlessioPorcu.it (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Di Carlo, Andrea (4 October 2021). "La vita da mediano di Faticanti". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Gentile, Lorenzo (13 January 2022). "Sognando De Rossi: chi è Faticanti, la rivelazione della Roma". Gianluca Di Marzio (in Italian). Sky Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Bergantini, Luca (10 May 2021). "Giacomo Faticanti, il mediano che sta conquistando Roma". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e Ottaviano, Luca (13 January 2022). "Giacomo Faticanti, l'X Factor della Roma sulle orme di De Rossi". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  9. ^ Caponetti, Riccardo; Di Carlo, Andrea (28 March 2022). "Da Faticanti a baby Gelli: largo ai giovani delle romane". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  10. ^ Canicchio, Lorenzo (13 July 2022). "Dal ritiro: la Roma batte il Sunderland. Faticanti in campo nel finale". Gazzetta Regionale (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Faticanti rinnova il contratto con la Roma fino al 2026". AS Roma (in Italian). 12 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Roma, ufficiale il rinnovo del talento Faticanti: contratto fino al 2026". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 12 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  13. ^ Canicchio, Lorenzo (30 August 2022). "Giacomo Faticanti convocato da Mourinho: sarà in panchina per Roma-Monza". Gazzetta Regionale (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  14. ^ Bergantini, Luca (27 October 2022). "Roma, arriva l'esordio di Faticanti in prima squadra". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  15. ^ Conflitti, Gabriele (28 October 2022). "Volpato, Faticanti, Bove: Mourinho vara ancora la linea verde per la sua Roma". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  16. ^ a b Di Chiaro, Michael (25 April 2023). "La Roma vince la Coppa Italia Primavera: Keramitsis stende la Fiorentina ai supplementari". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  17. ^ a b Andreuccetti, Gianluca (25 April 2023). "[FINALE] - Primavera TIM Cup, Fiorentina-Roma 1-2 d.t.s: Keramitsis regala la Coppa Italia ai giallorossi, termina l'egemonia viola". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Faticanti è un calciatore del Lecce" (Press release) (in Italian). US Lecce. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Calcio: Lecce; dalla Roma preso il centrocampista Faticanti". ANSA (in Italian). 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Faticanti dalla Roma al Lecce: ecco le cifre". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 25 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Dal Lecce in prestito arriva Giacomo Faticanti" (Press release) (in Italian). Ternana. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  22. ^ Canicchio, Lorenzo (8 January 2024). "Faticanti, ecco la firma. L'ex Roma in prestito alla Ternana dal Lecce". Gazzetta Regionale (in Italian). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  23. ^ Marcelli, Riccardo (20 January 2024). "La Ternana torna alla vittoria sul Cittadella, 3-1, grazie allo show di Gaston Pereiro" (in Italian). Il Messaggero. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  24. ^ Ciaccolini, Massimo (20 January 2024). "Ternana-Cittadella 3-1, trionfo Fere al Liberati" (in Italian). La Nazione. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Juventus NG, per il centrocampo arriva Faticanti dal Lecce". Tutto C (in Italian). 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Ternana-Bari 0-3, gol e highlights: segnano Di Cesare, Ricci e Sibilli". Sky Sport (in Italian). 23 May 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Next Gen | Giacomo Faticanti è bianconero". Juventus.com (in Italian). 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  28. ^ a b c "Giacomo Faticanti, tra De Rossi e Busquets fa sognare la Roma". TUTTOmercatoWEB.com (in Italian). 2 April 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  29. ^ "2 France 2 Italie". French Football Federation (in French). 2 November 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  30. ^ "Italia Under 19, anche Faticanti della Roma tra i convocati". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 18 March 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Torneo 8 Nazioni: a Sassuolo prima Ambrosino e poi l'esordiente Cassano danno la vittoria all'Italia contro la Repubblica Ceca". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 21 November 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Gli Azzurrini in Slovacchia alla conquista dell'Europa. Ufficializzata la lista dei 20 convocati, non ci sono Gnonto e Scalvini". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 16 June 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  33. ^ "L'Italia perde di misura con l'Inghilterra ma esce a testa alta dall'Europeo". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 28 June 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Stage a Coverciano dal 20 al 22 dicembre, convocati due gruppi di calciatori di interesse nazionale". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 15 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Ufficializzata la lista dei 21 convocati per il Mondiale in Argentina" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  36. ^ a b "Returning Rodriguez snatches Uruguay maiden title". FIFA. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  37. ^ a b Di Chiaro, Michael (11 June 2023). "Uruguay-Italia Under 20 1-0: Luciano Rodriguez stende gli Azzurrini, sudamericani Campioni del Mondo". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  38. ^ "Bollini sceglie i 20 Azzurrini per l'Europeo. Domani mattina partenza per Malta" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  39. ^ a b "Portugal 0-1 Italy: Kayode heads resilient Azzurrini to second Under-19 title". UEFA.com. UEFA. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  40. ^ a b Scognamiglio, Pietro (16 July 2023). "Gli azzurrini trionfano: campioni d'Europa Under 19. Battuto il Portogallo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  41. ^ "Giacomo Faticanti, promettente playmaker della Roma". La Giovane Italia (in Italian). 23 April 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Giacomo Faticanti". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
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