Matteo Politano
{{short description|Italian footballer (born 1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matteo Politano
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|8|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rome, Italy
| image =
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Napoli
| clubnumber = 21
| youthyears1 = 2004–2012
| youthclubs1 = Roma
| years1 = 2012–2013
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| clubs1 = Roma
| years2 = 2012–2013
| caps2 = 28
| goals2 = 8
| clubs2 = → Perugia (loan)
| years3 = 2013–2015
| caps3 = 72
| goals3 = 11
| clubs3 = Pescara
| years4 = 2015–2019
| caps4 = 96
| goals4 = 20
| clubs4 = Sassuolo
| years5 = 2018–2019
| caps5 = 36
| goals5 = 5
| clubs5 = → Inter Milan (loan)
| years6 = 2019–2021
| caps6 = 11
| goals6 = 0
| clubs6 = Inter Milan
| years7 = 2020–2021
| caps7 = 52
| goals7 = 11
| clubs7 = → Napoli (loan)
| years8 = 2021–
| caps8 = 134
| goals8 = 17
| clubs8 = Napoli
| nationalyears1 = 2011–2012
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalteam1 = Italy U19
| nationalyears2 = 2012–2014
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalteam2 = Italy U20
| nationalyears3 = 2013
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalteam3 = Italy U21
| nationalyears4 = 2018–
| nationalteam4 = Italy
| nationalcaps4 = 14
| nationalgoals4 = 3
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's Football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|ITA}}}}
{{MedalComp|CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions}}
{{Medal|RU|2022 England|}}
| club-update = 21:08, 23 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 23 March 2025
}}
Matteo Politano ({{IPA|it|matˈtɛːo poliˈtaːno}}; born 3 August 1993) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Serie A club Napoli and the Italy national team.
Club career
=Roma=
Of Calabrian origin from Fiumefreddo Bruzio,{{Cite web|url=http://247.libero.it/focus/45213318/29/le-origini-calabresi-di-politano/|title = Calabresi su Libero 24x7| work=Libero 24x7 }}[http://news.superscommesse.it/calcio/serie-a/2018/09/matteo-politano-e-linter-nel-destino-in-calabria-363914/ Matteo Politano e l’Inter nel destino … in Calabria] Politano is a youth product of A.S. Roma, with whom he won the 2010 "Allievi" U17 league,{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/it/204/25096/2010/06/News.shtml|title=CAMPIONATI NAZIONALI ALLIEVI E GIOVANISSIMI: ROMA E MILAN VINCONO LO SCUDETTO 2009–2010|date=17 June 2010|access-date=10 November 2012|publisher=FIGC|language=it}} as well as the 2011 Campionato Nazionale Primavera and the 2012 Coppa Italia Primavera. He was the sixth highest scorer of Roma's youth squad in the 2011–12 season (7 goals), behind Junior Tallo, Nicolás López, Gianluca Leonardi, Federico Viviani and Giammario Piscitella. In July 2012, Politano was loaned to Perugia.{{cite news|url=http://www.acperugiacalcio.com/news-societarie/?n=12 |title=Calciomercato Perugia, Politano in prestito per un anno |trans-title=Football Transfer Perugia, Politano in one-year loan |date=17 July 2012 |access-date=10 November 2012 |publisher=AC Perugia Calcio |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001102940/http://www.acperugiacalcio.com/news-societarie/?n=12 |archive-date=1 October 2012 }} He made his professional debut in the Coppa Italia. Politano was the starting forward in the 2012–13 Lega Pro Prima Divisione, with 3 goals in first 5 league matches in September.
=Pescara=
On 30 June 2013, Pescara signed Politano (€500,000) and Piscitella (€1.5 million) as part of the deal that Caprari returned to Roma (€2 million);{{cite news|url=http://www.pescaracalcio.com/stagione/archivio-news/6497-calciomercato-e-news.html |title=Calciomercato e news |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=3 July 2013 |publisher=Delfino Pescara 1936 |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706073600/http://www.pescaracalcio.com/stagione/archivio-news/6497-calciomercato-e-news.html |archive-date=6 July 2013 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.asroma.it/pdf/corporate/operazioni_di_mercato/2013_-_07_-_01_operazioni_di_mercato.pdf|title=Operazioni di mercato|date=1 July 2013|access-date=20 March 2014|publisher=AS Roma|language=it}}{{cite news|url=http://www.pescaracalcio.com/stagione/archivio-news/6483-speciale-calciomercato.html |title=Speciale calciomercato |date=20 June 2013 |access-date=20 March 2014 |publisher=Delfino Pescara 1936 |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320125511/http://www.pescaracalcio.com/stagione/archivio-news/6483-speciale-calciomercato.html |archive-date=20 March 2014 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.asroma.it/pdf/2013-06-21-esercizio-dei-diritti-di-opzione-e-controopzione-e-rapporti-di-partecipazione-ex-art-102-bis-noif.pdf.pdf|title=Esercizio Dei Diritti Di Opzione E Controopzione E Rapporti Di Partecipazione Ex Art. 102 Bis Noif|date=21 June 2013|access-date=19 March 2014|publisher=AS Roma|language=it}} however, Caprari returned to Pescara again (€1.5 million) for Piscitella (€1.5 million) in January 2014.
On 27 June 2015, Roma bought back Politano for €601,000, with Caprari moving to Pescara outright for €125,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.pescaracalcio.com/stagione/archivio-news/8421-alcuni-movimenti-del-pescara-in-questa-prima-fase-di-mercato-.html |title=Alcuni movimenti del Pescara in questa prima fase di mercato |date=27 June 2015 |access-date=4 July 2015 |publisher=Delfino Pescara 1936 |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629205717/http://www.pescaracalcio.com/stagione/archivio-news/8421-alcuni-movimenti-del-pescara-in-questa-prima-fase-di-mercato-.html |archive-date=29 June 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.asroma.it/pdf/corporate/bilanci_e_relazioni/2015_10_27_Relazione_Finanzaria_Annuale_Al_30_Giugno_2015.pdf|title=2015 RELAZIONE FINANZIARIA ANNUALE|date=27 October 2015|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=A.S. Roma|language=it}}
=Sassuolo=
On 2 July 2015, Serie A club Sassuolo signed Politano in a temporary deal with an option to purchase.{{cite web|url=http://www.sassuolocalcio.it/articles/?id=9&aid=1484/calciomercato-arriva-matteo-politano-dalla-roma|title=Calciomercato: arriva Matteo Politano dalla Roma|date=2 July 2015|access-date=7 July 2015|publisher=U.S. Sassuolo Calcio|language=it}} In June 2016, Sassuolo exercised their option to buy Politano.
=Inter Milan=
On 30 June 2018, Politano signed for Inter Milan on a season-long loan deal from Sassuolo, with an option to buy in June 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.inter.it/en/news/63205/matteo-politano-is-an-inter-player|title=Matteo Politano is a new Inter player|publisher=Inter Milan|date=30 June 2018|access-date=30 June 2018}}
He made his official debut for the club on 19 August in the first match of 2018–19 Serie A against his parent club Sassuolo, which ended in a 1–0 away loss.{{cite news|url=https://www.90min.com/posts/6148467-sassuolo-1-0-inter-report-ratings-reaction-as-the-nerazzurri-slip-to-defeat-in-serie-a-opener|title=Sassuolo 1–0 Inter: Report, Ratings & Reaction as the Nerazzurri Slip to Defeat in Serie A Opener|publisher=90min|last=Marcovitch|first=Joe|date=19 August 2018|access-date=20 August 2018}} On 15 September, Politano played his 100th Serie A match in a 1–0 shock loss to Parma at home.{{cite web|url=https://www.inter.it/it/news/89247/inter-parma-all-you-need-to-know|title=Inter-Parma, all you need to know|publisher=Inter Milan|date=16 September 2018|access-date=8 October 2018}} Two weeks later, he made his debut in the UEFA Champions League in a 2–1 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur at San Siro in the first group stage match.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/internazionale-v-tottenham-hotspur/5p9k01y5c49x6lz4hobkvlvmy|title=Inter 2 Tottenham 1: Icardi, Vecino complete dramatic late turnaround|publisher=Goal.com|author=Harry West|date=18 September 2018|access-date=19 September 2018}}
On 29 September, he opened his scoring account for Inter in the league match against Cagliari, netting the second with a long-range strike in a 2–0 home win.{{cite web|url=http://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a/match-report/2018-19/UNICO/UNI/7/INTCAG|title=Results: Inter 2–0 Cagliari|website=legaseriea.it|access-date=30 September 2018}} During the course of 2018–19 season, Politano was the most used out-field player, having made 48 appearances in all competitions; only goalkeeper Samir Handanović playing more than him. As a result, on 19 June 2019 Inter exercised their option to buy Politano from Sassuolo.{{cite web|url=https://www.inter.it/en/news/68039/matteo-politano-signs-for-inter-on-a-permanent-basis|title=Matteo Politano signs for Inter on a permanent basis|publisher=Inter Milan|date=19 June 2019|access-date=23 June 2019}}
However, with the appointment of head coach Antonio Conte and subsequent switch of formation from 4–3–3 to 3–5–2, Politano soon lost his place in the team's usual starting line-up.{{cite web|url=https://sempreinter.com/2019/09/06/venerato-politano-cant-play-3-5-2-conte-will-have-to-work-on-him|title=Venerato: "Politano Can't Play 3–5–2, Conte Will Have To Work On Him"|website=sempreinter.com|publisher=Sempreinter|date=6 September 2019|access-date=2 April 2020}} In January 2020, Politano passed the medical at Roma and was due to be exchanged for Leonardo Spinazzola yet the transfer collapsed as Inter were not entirely satisfied with Spinazzola's physical conditions and failed at re-negotiation of the deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/17-01-2020/politano-spinazzola-colpo-farsa-mercato-360182975263_preview.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|title=Politano-Spinazzola, un colpo di farsa mercato|trans-title=Politano-Spinazzola, a blow to the farce market|language=it|website=gazzetta.it|publisher=RCS Media Group|date=18 January 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}}
=Napoli=
On 28 January 2020, Politano moved to Napoli on a two-year loan with an obligation to make deal permanent.{{cite press release|url=https://www.inter.it/en/news/2020/01/28/matteo-politano-leaves-inter-for-napoli.html|title=Matteo Politano joins Napoli|date=28 January 2020|access-date=28 January 2020|publisher=inter.it}} On 29 October 2020, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 away win over Real Sociedad in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2029752--real-sociedad-vs-napoli/ |title=Real Sociedad 0–1 Napoli |website=UEFA |date=29 October 2020 }}
International career
Politano received his first Italy U19 call-up against the Italy U20 "C" side in December 2011. He then played two times during the team's 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification campaign (featuring as a substitute for Elio De Silvestro){{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/teams/players/250050381--matteo-politano/|title=UEFA European Under-19 Championship Profile: Matteo Politano|publisher=UEFA|access-date=29 May 2018}} and appeared in two friendlies before the elite round of the competition.
On 5 November 2016, Politano was called up to the senior squad for the first time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Liechtenstein and a friendly match against Germany by manager Gian Piero Ventura.{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/93951/italy-politano-and-cataldi-debut-calls|title=Italy: Politano and Cataldi debut calls|publisher=football-italia.net|date=5 November 2016|access-date=7 November 2016}} He later made his senior international debut for the national team on 28 May 2018, under manager Roberto Mancini, starting for Italy in a 2–1 friendly win over Saudi Arabia.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/122048/italy-balotelli-and-mancini-ideal-start|title=Italy: Balotelli and Mancini ideal start|publisher=Football Italia|date=28 May 2018|access-date=29 May 2018}} On 20 November 2018, he scored his first goal for Italy on his second cap in the 94th minute of a 1–0 friendly match win over the United States, held in Genk.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/130970/politano-breaks-ice-italy|title=Politano breaks the ice for Italy|publisher=Football Italia|date=20 November 2018}}
Style of play
Politano is a quick and diminutive left-footed player, with an eye for goal, who is gifted with pace, vision, good technique, and dribbling ability at speed, as well as good close control and first-time passing ability in close spaces. A versatile player, he is usually deployed as a winger, and is capable of playing on either flank, as well as in numerous other attacking roles across the front line, including as a second striker.{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/politano-alla-salah-ecco-come-spalletti-pensa-di-rivoluzionare-l-12265 |title=Politano alla Salah, ecco come Spalletti pensa di rivoluzionare l'Inter |publisher=www.calciomercato.com |language=it |author1=Luca Bedogni |date=30 June 2018 |access-date=23 November 2018 }} He also possesses a good shot from distance, and is a threat from set-pieces.{{cite web |url=https://www.fcinternews.it/in-primo-piano/politano-si-e-preso-l-inter-keita-e-inciampato-quali-sono-le-prospettive-292774 |title=Politano si è preso l'Inter, Keita è inciampato. Quali sono le prospettive? |publisher=www.fcinternews.it |language=it |author1=Marco Lo Prato |date=13 November 2018 |access-date=23 November 2018 }}
Personal life
On 20 November 2021, it was announced that Politano tested positive for COVID-19, while being asymptomatic, amid the pandemic in Italy;{{cite web|url=https://www.sscnapoli.it/static/news/Matteo-Politano-positivo-al-Covid-19--24011.aspx|title=Matteo Politano positivo al Covid-19|publisher=sscnapoli.it|access-date=29 November 2021|date=20 November 2021|language=Italian}} he recovered by 29 November.{{cite web|url=https://football-italia.net/napoli-politano-recovers-from-covid/|title=NAPOLI: POLITANO RECOVERS FROM COVID|publisher=Football Italia|date=29 November 2021}}
Married in June 2018 to Silvia Di Vincenzo, he later became engaged to PR Ginevra Sozzi.{{Cite web |title=Politano (con sigaretta) stregato dall'ex di Dybala. E la moglie lo scopre grazie a un investigatore privato |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Inter/22-01-2020/politano-stregato-ginevra-moglie-scopre-grazie-un-investigatore-privato-360312735933.shtml |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it-IT}} On June 17, 2021, their first daughter, Giselle, was born.{{Cite web |title=Politano finalmente papà: perché si chiama Giselle. Like di lady Insigne |url=https://corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/napoli/2021/06/17-82765011/politano_finalmente_pap_perch_si_chiama_giselle_like_di_lady_insigne |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=corrieredellosport.it |date=17 June 2021 |language=it}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 23 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/matteo-pplitano/245593/|title=Matteo Politano|website=Soccerway|access-date=29 May 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Coppa Italia !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
| Division
!Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perugia
|28 | 8 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 4 | 2 | 35 | 10 | |
| rowspan=3|Pescara
|rowspan=2|Serie B |31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 32 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15
|41 | 5 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 5{{efn|Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs}} | 1 | 49 | 6 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!72 | 11 | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 5 | 1 | 81 | 12 | |
| rowspan=4|Sassuolo
|rowspan=3|Serie A |28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 29 | 5 | ||
| 2016–17
|32 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 3 | colspan=2|– | 42 | 8 | |
| 2017–18
|36 | 10 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 39 | 11 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!96 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 3 | colspan=2|– | 110 | 24 | |
| rowspan=3|Inter Milan
|rowspan=2|Serie A |36 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}} | 1 | colspan=2|– | 48 | 6 | |
| 2019–20
|11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan=2|– | 15 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!47 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 | colspan=2|– | 63 | 6 | |
| rowspan=2|Napoli (loan)
|rowspan=6|Serie A |15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan=2|– | 20 | 2 | |
| 2020–21
|37 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 8{{efn|name=UEL}} | 1 | 1{{efn|name=SCI|Appearance(s) in Supercoppa Italiana}} | 0 | 50 | 11 |
| rowspan=5|Napoli
|33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=UEL}} | 2 | colspan=2|– | 39 | 5 | |
| 2022–23
|27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9{{efn|name=UCL}} | 1 | colspan=2|– | 37 | 4 | |
| 2023–24
|37 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 8{{efn|name=UCL}} | 1 | 2{{efn|name=SCI}} | 0 | 48 | 9 |
| 2024–25
|37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 39 | 3 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!186 | 28 | 12 | 1 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 233 | 34 |
| colspan=3|Career total
!429 | 72 | 26 | 2 | 55 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 522 | 86 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 23 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="8"|Italy
|2018 | 2 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total||14||3 |
|---|
:Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first.{{cite web|url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=45523&squadraId=12|title=Convocazioni e presenze in campo POLITANO MATTEO|publisher=figc.it|access-date=24 March 2019|language=it}}
| class="wikitable sortable" align=center
|+ List of international goals scored by Matteo Politano ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 20 November 2018 | Luminus Arena, Genk, Belgium | {{fb|USA}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan=3 | Friendly |
| 2. | rowspan=2 | 28 May 2021 | rowspan=2 | Sardegna Arena, Cagliari, Italy | rowspan=2 | {{fb|SMR}} | align=center | 3–0 | align=center rowspan=2 | 7–0 | |
| 3. | align=center | 6–0 |
Honours
Napoli
- Serie A: 2022–23,{{cite web |date=4 May 2023 |title=Napoli win Serie A for first time in 33 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65488842 |access-date=4 May 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport}} 2024–25{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2025/may/23/serie-a-title-decider-napoli-and-inter-battle-it-out-for-the-scudetto-live|title=Serie A title decider: Napoli and Inter battle it out for the Scudetto – live|publisher=The Guardian|date=23 May 2025|access-date=23 May 2025|url-status=live}}
- Coppa Italia: 2019–20{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/154624/coppa-napoli-beat-juventus-penalties|title=Coppa: Napoli beat Juventus on penalties|publisher=Football Italia|date=17 June 2020}}
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://sscnapoli.it/en/player-details/?id=1 Profile] at the SSC Napoli website
- [https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=45523&squadraId=12 FIGC profile] {{in lang|it}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{SSC Napoli squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Politano, Matteo}}
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:AC Perugia Calcio players
Category:Delfino Pescara 1936 players
Category:US Sassuolo Calcio players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Italy men's international footballers
Category:Italy men's youth international footballers
Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Footballers from Rome