Roberto Piccoli
{{short description|Italian footballer (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Roberto Piccoli
| image = Piccoli Cagliari 2024 (Roberto Piccoli).jpg
| full_name = Roberto Piccoli
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|1|27}}
| birth_place = Bergamo, Italy
| currentclub = Cagliari
(on loan from Atalanta)
| clubnumber = 91
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 = 2011–2019
| youthclubs1 = Atalanta
| years1 = 2019–
| clubs1 = Atalanta
| caps1 = 15
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2020–2021
| clubs2 = → Spezia (loan)
| caps2 = 20
| goals2 = 5
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = → Genoa (loan)
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2022–2023
| clubs4 = → Hellas Verona (loan)
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2023
| clubs5 = → Empoli (loan)
| caps5 = 15
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2023–2024
| clubs6 = → Lecce (loan)
| caps6 = 35
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = → Cagliari (loan)
| caps7 = 37
| goals7 = 10
| nationalyears1 = 2016
| nationalteam1 = Italy U15
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam2 = Italy U16
| nationalcaps2 = 14
| nationalgoals2 = 4
| nationalyears3 = 2018
| nationalteam3 = Italy U18
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 2018–2020
| nationalteam4 = Italy U19
| nationalcaps4 = 22
| nationalgoals4 = 5
| nationalyears5 = 2021
| nationalteam5 = Italy U21
| nationalcaps5 = 4
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 03:47, 26 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 18:55, 16 November 2021 (UTC)
| caption = Piccoli with Cagliari in 2024
}}
Roberto Piccoli (born 27 January 2001) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{Italian football updater|Cagliari}} club Cagliari, on loan from Atalanta.
Club career
=Youth=
Piccoli began playing football at the age of 10 for Tritium Calcio, which plays in the fourth division of Italian football. At the age of 13, Piccoli made a move to the Atalanta youth academy after being noticed by Maurizio Costanzi, head of Atalanta youth development. He would remain with Atalanta for the entirety of his youth career.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-24|title=Piccoli, la bicicletta per mantenersi in forma e segnare valanghe di gol|url=https://www.lagiovaneitalia.net/lginet/piccoli-la-passione-per-la-bicicletta-e-gol-a-valanga/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=La Giovane Italia|language=it-IT}}
Piccoli had a successful youth career while playing for Atalanta in the Campionato Primavera 1. In the 2018–19 season, Piccoli scored 14 goals in the league which eventually helped his Atalanta side lift the Campionato Primavera 1 trophy. Piccoli had a similar performance in the 2019–20 season where he scored a total of 7 goals in the league which eventually saw his Atalanta side lift the Campionato Primavera 1 title once again.{{Cite web|title=Archivio {{!}} Lega Serie A|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/it/primavera-1/archivio/2018-19/UNICO/UNI/19|access-date=2022-01-28|website=www.legaseriea.it|language=it}}
=Atalanta=
He made his professional debut in a 0–0 Serie A tie with Empoli on 15 April 2019.{{cite web|title=Atalanta vs. Empoli - 15 April 2019 - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/04/15/italy/serie-a/atalanta-bergamo/empoli-fc/2864069/|website=Soccerway}}
==Loan to Spezia Calcio==
On 15 September 2020, he joined Spezia on a season-long loan.{{Cite press release|title=Roberto Piccoli per l'attacco delle Aquile|access-date=15 September 2020|date=15 September 2020|publisher=Spezia|url=https://www.acspezia.com/news/roberto-piccoli-per-lattacco-delle-aquile.21727.html|language=it}}
Piccoli scored his first goal for Spezia in a 1–2 loss on 20 December 2020 against Inter Milan.{{Cite web|title=Internazionale v Spezia Match Report, 12/20/20, Serie A {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/match/internazionale-v-spezia/bnwzbzql2gaho5z4yvcx0pgyc|access-date=2022-01-28|website=www.goal.com}}
==Return to Atalanta==
On 21 August 2021, Piccoli came on as a substitute for Atalanta in an away match against Torino and scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute. This was his first goal for the Bergamo club in the top flight.{{Cite web|title=TORINO – ATALANTA – 2021-2022|url=https://www.atalanta.it/en/matches/torino-atalanta-2021-2022/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Atalanta|language=en-US}} Piccoli made several more substitute appearances for Atalanta throughout the season, and was named in the starting lineup for the first time against Lazio on 22 January 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.eurosport.it/calcio/serie-a/2021-2022/serie-a-lazio-atalanta-0-0-pagelle-demiral-un-drago-luis-alberto-invisibile-gasperini-disinnesca-sar_sto8730218/story.shtml |title=Serie A, Lazio–Atalanta 0–0, pagelle: Demiral un drago, Luis Alberto invisibile, Gasperini disinnesca Sarri |publisher=Eurosport |language=it |date=22 January 2022 |access-date=25 January 2022}} Piccoli has made a total of 15 appearances for Atalanta in Serie A, while only scoring one goal for the Bergamo club.{{Cite web|title=Player - ROBERTO PICCOLI {{!}} Lega Serie A|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/players/roberto-piccoli/PCCBRT|access-date=2022-01-28|website=www.legaseriea.it|language=en}}
==Loan to Genoa==
Piccoli joined Genoa on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season after spending the first half of the season with Atalanta.{{Cite web|title=ROBERTO PICCOLI È ROSSOBLÙ – Genoa Cricket and Football Club – Official Website|url=https://genoacfc.it/roberto-piccoli-e-rossoblu/|access-date=2022-01-28}}
Piccoli made his Genoa debut against Roma coming on as a substitute on 5 February 2022 in a 0–0 draw.{{Cite web|title=Match Report {{!}} 2021-22 {{!}} 24ª Match Day {{!}} Lega Serie A|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a/match-report/2021-22/UNICO/UNI/24/ROMGEN|access-date=2022-02-07|website=www.legaseriea.it|language=en}} He made five appearances for Genoa during the remainder of the season, though did not score any goals.{{cite news |url=https://sport.sky.it/calciomercato/2022/06/30/piccoli-verona-calciomercato-news |title=Verona, ufficiale Piccoli: arriva in prestito dall'Atalanta |date=30 June 2022 |access-date=12 July 2022 |language=it}}
==Loan to Hellas Verona==
On 30 June 2022, Piccoli joined Hellas Verona on loan for the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|publisher=Hellas Verona|url=https://www.hellasverona.it/it/news/un-nuovo-attaccante-per-lhellas-verona-benvenuto-roberto-piccoli|title=Un nuovo attaccante per l'Hellas Verona: benvenuto, Roberto Piccoli!|date=30 June 2022|access-date=30 June 2022|language=it}}
==Loan to Empoli==
On 31 January 2023, Piccoli moved on loan to Empoli for one and a half seasons, with an option to buy for Empoli and counter-option to buy back for Atalanta.{{cite web|publisher=Empoli F.C.|url=https://empolifc.com/roberto-piccoli-e-un-nuovo-calciatore-azzurro/|title=Roberto Piccoli è un nuovo calciatore azzurro|date=31 January 2023|access-date=31 January 2023|language=it}}
==Loan to Lecce==
On 31 August 2023, Piccoli's loan to Empoli was cut short and he moved on loan to Lecce instead, with an option to buy.{{cite web|publisher=Lecce|url=https://www.uslecce.it/news/347990298118/piccoli-e-un-nuovo-calciatore-del-lecce|title=PICCOLI È UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DEL LECCE|work=U.S. Lecce |trans-title=PICCOLI IS A NEW LECCE PLAYER|date=31 August 2023|access-date=31 August 2023|language=it}}
==Loan to Cagliari==
File:RobertoPiccoli.png in 2024]]
On 17 July 2024, Cagliari signed 23-year-old Piccoli on loan with an option to buy set at €12 million.{{Cite web |title=Piccoli al Cagliari |url=https://cagliaricalcio.com/news/piccoli-al-cagliari/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Cagliari |language=it-IT}}
International career
=Youth=
Roberto Piccoli made his first appearance in an international match when he came on as a substitute for the Italy U15 team in a friendly match against England U15 on 24 April 2016, in which the Italians were defeated 2–3.{{Cite web|title=Roberto Piccoli of Italy U15 competes with Bukayio Saka of England...|url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/roberto-piccoli-of-italy-u15-competes-with-bukayio-saka-of-news-photo/523836404|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Getty Images|date=24 April 2016 |language=en-gb}}
With the Italy U19 squad he took part in the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. While qualifying for the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Piccoli scored two goals in a 2–0 victory against the Serbian U19s on 26 March 2019.{{Cite web|title=Serbia U19 vs. Italy U19 - 26 March 2019 - Soccerway|url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2019/03/26/europe/uefa-u19-championship/serbia-under-19/italy-under-19/2945159/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=us.soccerway.com}} Piccoli's U-19 side was knocked out in the group stage of the tournament after suffering defeats to both Portugal U19 and Spain U19.{{Cite web|last=UEFA.com|date=2019-07-27|title=Under-19 EURO 2019: all the highlights|url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/news/0257-0dee7528c3a6-8e90bfcbc9d3-1000--under-19-euro-2019-all-the-highlights/?referrer=%2funder19%2fnews%2fnewsid%3d2607614|access-date=2022-01-28|website=UEFA|language=en}}
On 3 September 2021 he made his debut with the Italy U21 squad, playing as a starter in the qualifying match won 3–0 against Luxembourg.{{Cite web|url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/news/under-21-esordio-con-vittoria-per-la-nuova-italia-nicolato-ho-visto-un-grande-impegno-ma-dobbiamo-lavorare/|title=Esordio con vittoria per la nuova Italia. Nicolato: "Ho visto un grande impegno, ma dobbiamo lavorare"|date=3 September 2021|access-date=3 September 2021|publisher=figc.it|language=it}} Roberto Piccoli's last appearance for the Italy U21 squad was on 16 November 2021, playing as a starter in a friendly match won 4–2 against Romania U21.{{Cite web|title=Italy U21 vs. Romania U21 - Football Match Summary - November 16, 2021 - ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/621777|access-date=2022-01-28|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}
=Senior=
Roberto Piccoli has yet to make his senior debut for the Italy national team. However, following an impressive first-half to the 2024-25 Serie A season with Cagliari, he spoke about his hopes for a possible call-up in an exclusive interview with [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenkmoore/ Steven Moore] of Canadian Serie A Broadcaster TLN TV, stating that he is "focused on working hard at the club level" as this is "the only way you can get to the national team."{{Cite web |last=Bettoni |first=Lorenzo |date=2025-03-07 |title=Piccoli: 'Kean the best Serie A striker' |url=https://football-italia.net/piccoli-kean-best-serie-a-striker/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=football-italia.net |language=en-GB}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 25 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/roberto-piccoli/575343/|title=R. Piccoli|website=Soccerway}}
| 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"|Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals | |||||||||
| rowspan="4"|Atalanta
|rowspan="3"|Serie A |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019–20
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021–22
|12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 12 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Spezia (loan)
|Serie A |20 | 5 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 23 | 6 | ||
| Genoa (loan)
|Serie A |5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 0 | |||
| Hellas Verona (loan)
|Serie A |7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Empoli (loan)
|Serie A |13 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 13 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24
|Serie A |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Lecce (loan)
|Serie A |35 | 5 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 36 | 6 | ||
| Cagliari (loan)
|Serie A |37 | 10 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 40 | 11 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!134 | 23 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 26 |
Style of play
Regarded as a talented young prospect, Piccoli is a player with good technique and a tall stature of 193 centimeters, while mostly being deployed as a center-forward. His height allows him to be dangerous in the air. Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta's head coach, describes Roberto Piccoli as great young talent who is a harder worker and a player that brings great value to the team.{{citation|title=GOLDEN BOY GALA FULL LIVESTREAM| date=13 December 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caa6TSOb11M|access-date=4 February 2022}}{{cite web|title=Atalanta, Gasp lancia Piccoli: "Mi ispiro a Zapata e Mandzukic"|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Atalanta/16-04-2019/atalanta-l-esordio-piccoli-il-giorno-piu-importante-mia-vita-330807252717.shtml|access-date=21 January 2022|website=La Gazzetta dello Sport|date=16 April 2019 |language=it}}
Piccoli describes himself as a center-forward who loves to exploit the depth of the defense, while being technically gifted but also explaining he can still improve in that area. Piccoli has said that he is inspired by the likes of Duván Zapata and Mario Mandžukić.
Personal life
On 22 January 2021, Piccoli met Pope Francis.{{cite web|title=Roberto Piccoli Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/p/CKWW-gOhiLa/|access-date=4 February 2022|website=Instagram}}
Piccoli has a passion for cycling, which he uses to maintain fitness.{{cite web|title=Roberto Piccoli, l'ultimo talento di Zingonia|url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2019/05/02/roberto-piccoli-chi-e-atalanta|date=2 May 2019|access-date=4 February 2022|website=Sky Sport|language=it}}
Honors
Atalanta
- 2x Italian youth champion (Primavera) 18/19,19/20{{Cite web|title=Archivio {{!}} Lega Serie A|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/it/primavera-1/archivio/2019-20/UNICO/UNI/30|access-date=2022-01-23|website=www.legaseriea.it|language=it}}
- Italian Supercoppa Winner (Primavera) 19/20{{Cite web|title=Supercoppa Primavera TIM on 21/1 in Bergamo|url=https://www.atalanta.it/en/news/supercoppa-primavera-tim-on-21-1-in-bergamo/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Atalanta|date=5 January 2021 |language=en-US}}
Individual
- UEFA Youth League Top Scorer: 2019–20{{cite web |title=UEFA Youth League in numbers|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/statistics/|website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=25 August 2020}}
- Cosme Damião Awards – Revelation of the Year: 2021{{cite news|date=3 March 2022|title=Darwin e Gonçalo Ramos Galardoados|trans-title=Darwin and Gonçalo Ramos Awarded|url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2022-03-03/benfica-darwin-e-goncalo-ramos-galardoados/930282|language=pt|website=A Bola|access-date=4 March 2022}}
- Italian Golden Boy: 2021{{Cite web|title=Piccoli wins the Italian Golden Boy 2021|url=https://www.atalanta.it/en/news/piccoli-wins-best-italian-player-golden-boy-2021/|access-date=2022-01-23|website=Atalanta|date=13 December 2021 |language=en-US}}
- 20 man shortlist for the European Golden Boy award: 2021{{Cite web|title=Golden Boy award: Pedri, Bellingham and Reyna among 20-player shortlist {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/golden-boy-award-pedri-bellingham-and-reyna-among-20-player/1e407gcdgbf6d1ocnhb8cskhpl|access-date=2022-01-21|website=www.goal.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|roberto-piccoli/575343}}
- {{TuttoCalciatori|Piccoli_Roberto}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190420215616/http://www.legaseriea.it/it/giocatori/roberto-piccoli/PCCBRT Serie A Profile]
- [https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=46224&squadraId=14 FIGC U18 Profile]
- [https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=46224&squadraId=24 FIGC U19 Profile]
{{Cagliari Calcio squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piccoli, Roberto}}
Category:Footballers from Bergamo
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Italy men's youth international footballers
Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Spezia Calcio players
Category:Hellas Verona FC players