Player Analysis: Samuele Ricci

Italy currently has a wealth of options in midfield, which allows Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini to be spoilt for choice. Even with his settled trio of Nicolò Barella, Jorginho, and Marco Verratti, there are still many quality options available to him on the bench or he unfortunately has to omit.

There are also a number of younger midfielders like Sandro Tonali, Davide Frattesi, and Nicolò Rovella who are emerging as well as Empoli playmaker Samuele Ricci. The 20-year-old deep-lying midfielder was an integral part of the Tuscan club’s promotion from Serie B and he has already displayed his ability to adapt to Serie A.

Born in Pontedera in the province of Pisa on August 21, 2001, Ricci came through the Empoli youth academy in his teens and he featured prominently in its Allievi Nazionali squad. His form earned him a call-up for the Italy Under-17 squad and he represented his country at the 2018 European Under-17 Championship in England.

The midfielder went on to play five out of six matches at the tournament, which the Italians lost to The Netherlands on penalties. Jurrien Timber gave the Dutch the lead early in the second half of the final, Ricci equalized for the Azzurrini to make it 1-1, and then Alessio Riccardi from Roma gave the Italians a 2-1 lead. Brian Brobbey brought it back to 2-2, forcing a penalty shoot-out, which the Oranje won 4-1.