Roberto Soriano
{{short description|Italian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Roberto Soriano
| image = 20150616 - Portugal - Italie - Genève - Roberto Soriano.jpg
| caption = Soriano with Italy in 2015
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Darmstadt, Germany
| height = 1.82 m{{cite web |url=https://www.bolognafc.it/player/roberto-soriano/ |title=Roberto Soriano |publisher=Bologna F.C. 1909 |access-date=10 August 2022}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Salernitana
| clubnumber = 21
| youthyears1 = 2006–2009
| youthclubs1 = Bayern Munich
| youthyears2 = 2009–2010
| youthclubs2 = Sampdoria
| years1 = 2010–2016
| clubs1 = Sampdoria
| caps1 = 136
| goals1 = 18
| years2 = 2010–2011
| clubs2 = → Empoli (loan)
| caps2 = 27
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2016–2019
| clubs3 = Villarreal
| caps3 = 55
| goals3 = 9
| years4 = 2018–2019
| clubs4 = → Torino (loan)
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2019
| clubs5 = → Bologna (loan)
| caps5 = 17
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2019–2023
| clubs6 = Bologna
| caps6 = 128
| goals6 = 15
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = Salernitana
| caps7 = 31
| goals7 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam1 = Italy U17
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2009
| nationalteam2 = Italy U18
| nationalcaps2 = 4
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2008–2010
| nationalteam3 = Italy U19
| nationalcaps3 = 11
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2009–2011
| nationalteam4 = Italy U21
| nationalcaps4 = 15
| nationalgoals4 = 2
| nationalyears5 = 2014–2020
| nationalteam5 = Italy
| nationalcaps5 = 9
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 17 May 2025
| nationalteam-update = 11 November 2020
}}
Roberto Soriano ({{IPA|it|roˈbɛrto soˈrjaːno}}; born 8 February 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{Italian football updater|Salernitana}} club Salernitana. Born in Germany, he plays for the Italy national team.
Club career
=Early career=
Soriano was born in the German city of Darmstadt to a family from Sperone, Province of Avellino, Italy.{{cite web |language=it| url = http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/11/12/la-rivincita-dellemigrante-soriano-quanti-sacrifici-per-riuscire-a-tornare50.html | title = La rivincita dell'emigrante Soriano | date = 12 November 2014 | publisher= repubblica.it | access-date= 26 May 2015}}{{cite web| language=it| url = http://avellino-calcio.it/ecco-chi-e-roberto-soriano-giovane-di-origini-irpine| title = Ecco chi è Roberto Soriano, giovane di origini irpine | publisher= avellino-calcio.it | access-date= 26 May 2015}} He started his career with Bayern Munich after being spotted by their scouts in the 2007 Champions Youth Cup while playing for Die Roten.
=Sampdoria=
On 2 February 2009, Soriano moved to Italian club Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|url=http://www.sampdoria.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4338&Itemid=73|title=Soriano e Zamblera: nasce la grande Samp del domani|date=2 February 2009|access-date=4 September 2010|work=UC Sampdoria|language=it}}{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbayern.telekom.de/de/aktuell/news/2009/18483.php?fcb_sid=70fb5bbc4fea5973dfa23e0871255b01|title=Youngster Soriano wechselt nach Genua|date=3 February 2009|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FC Bayern Munich|language=de}} Soriano immediately entered Sampdoria's Primavera, or youth team, for the 2009 Torneo di Viareggio,{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=30885&L=en|title= Inter exit Viareggio Cup in semis |date=21 February 2009|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FC Internazionale Milano|publisher=inter.it}} where the Genoa based club finished as runners-up.{{cite news|url=http://www.sampdoria.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4454&Itemid=100|title=Pea: "Juve molto forte e tanta tensione, va bene così"|date=23 February 2009|access-date=4 September 2010|work=UC Sampdoria|language=it}} In the 2009–10 season, Sampdoria were eliminated in the semi-finals at the Campionato Nazionale Primavera, in which Soriano played.{{cite news|url=http://www.sampdoria.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6511&Itemid=100|title=Il sogno s'infrange nel derby: la Primavera esce di scena|date=5 June 2010|access-date=4 September 2010|work=UC Sampdoria|language=it}}
=Empoli=
In June 2010, he was loaned to Serie B side Empoli. Soriano made his club debut on 15 August 2010 in a friendly against Reggiana. Soriano was substituted by Gianluca Musacci during the second half. Empoli went on to win that match 4–1. He made his Serie B debut in Empoli's first Serie B match of the season as a defensive/holding midfielder along with Davide Moro. He was substituted for Mirko Valdifiori in the 66th minute. Empoli drew that game 1–1 against Frosinone. However, Empoli would win the away match 3–2.{{cite web|url=http://www.legaserieb.it/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=7886dc12-bbae-4074-b4c5-822dade72982&groupId=115051|title=Match Report: Frosinone 2–3 Empoli|date=22 August 2010|access-date=4 September 2010|work=Panini Digital|publisher=Publishered by Lega Serie B|language=it}} Soriano started from the bench in the next match, losing his starting spot to Gianluca Musacci. He returned to the starting XI in Empoli's 5th Serie B game of the season, and played as a central/defensive midfielder, a position he would be utilized in during the next 2 rounds (4–4–2 formation and 4–3–1–2 formation). On 11 December, he scored his first Serie B goal in the game against Portogruaro.
On 31 August 2015, Soriano signed a contract with Napoli worth €13.5m with Juan Camilo Zúñiga set to join Sampdoria as part of the deal, but the transfer fell through because Napoli did not deposit the contract with Lega Serie A before the 23:00 deadline. It is believed the delay was mainly due to disputes about image rights.{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/72386/napoli-miss-soriano-deadline|title=Napoli Miss Soriano Deadline!|date=31 August 2015|access-date=4 August 2015|work=Fanatix|publisher=football-italia.net|language=en}}
=Villarreal=
On 2 August 2016, Spanish club Villarreal CF and Sampdoria reached an agreement for the transfer of Soriano. He signed a five-year contract, for a reported fee of €14 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.villarrealcf.es/noticias/indice-general/noticias-generales/item/14453-el-villarreal-cf-ficha-a-roberto-soriano|title=El Villarreal CF ficha a Roberto Soriano|trans-title=Villarreal CF signed Roberto Soriano|language=es|publisher=Villarreal CF|date=2 August 2016|access-date=2 August 2016}} Soriano made his club debut in a 1–1 away draw against Granada in La Liga, on 20 August.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.it/2016/08/21/liga-prima-villarreal-made-in-italy-sansone-soriano/|title=Liga, la prima del Villarreal made in Italy: Soriano e Sansone subito titolari|publisher=FoxSports.it|language=it|author1=Edoardo Testoni|work=Fox Sports |date=21 August 2016|access-date=13 September 2016}}
==Torino (loan)==
On 17 August 2018, he joined Torino on loan with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-torino-arriva-soriano-dal-villarreal-1147110|access-date=17 August 2018|title=UFFICIALE: Torino, arriva Soriano dal Villarreal|language=it}}
==Bologna (loan)==
On 4 January 2019, he joined Bologna on loan with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-torino-risolto-il-prestito-di-soriano-va-al-bologna-1198101|access-date=4 January 2019|title=UFFICIALE: Torino, risolto il prestito di Soriano. Va al Bologna|language=it}}
=Salernitana=
After not playing in the 2023–24 season because of an injury, on 20 August 2024 Soriano signed a one-season contract with Salernitana.{{cite web|publisher=Salernitana|url=https://salernitana.it/news/roberto-soriano-e-un-giocatore-della-salernitana/|title=Roberto Soriano è un giocatore della Salernitana|work=U.S. Salernitana 1919 |trans-title=Roberto Soriano is a player of Salernitana|date=20 August 2024|access-date=20 August 2024|language=it |author1=Andrea }}
International career
=Youth team=
Soriano played all three matches in the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship elite round. He also received a call-up to the 2008 Minsk under-17 International Tournament.{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/en/204/3664/2008/01/News.shtml|title=International tournament: team plays against Moldova, Belarus and Russia |date=7 January 2008|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FIGC}} He scored a goal in the third place match.{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/en/204/3722/2008/01/News.shtml|title=Minsk Tournament: Italy beats Belgium and finishes third |date=14 January 2008|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FIGC}} Soriano was to receive a call-up from the Italian under-19 side for the game against Romania in December 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/en/204/20124/2008/12/News.shtml|title=Eighteen players for friendly match vs. Romania |date=11 December 2008|access-date=12 September 2010|work=FIGC}}{{cite news|url=http://sport.repubblica.it/news/sport/calcio-amichevole-under-19-italia-romania/3460354|title=CALCIO, AMICHEVOLE UNDER 19: ITALIA-ROMANIA 3–1 |date=17 December 2008|access-date=13 September 2010|work=la Repubblica |language=it}} He was included in Italy's starting line-up for this match. The game finished 3–1 to Italy. Soriano received a call-up to all upcoming U18/19 matches,The U19 team (born 1990 class) failed to qualify to 2009 final tournament and graduated, born 1991 players were fielded for U19 matches against born 1990 opponents played in the friendly against Norway in March, was an unused substitute against Ukraine (born 1990 class) in April{{cite news|url=http://www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua/ru/dynamo/news/28712.html|title=Сборная Украины (U-19) упустила победу над итальянцами|trans-title=Ukraine Team (U19) missed victory over Italy|date=8 April 2009|access-date=13 September 2010|work=FC Dynameo Kiev|language=ru}}{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/it/204/20788/2009/03/News.shtml|title=Under 19: l'8 aprile amichevole a Kiev con l'Ucraina |date=30 March 2009|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FIGC|language=it}} and also appeared in an U18 international tournament in Slovakia.{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/it/204/20962/2009/04/News.shtml|title=Under 18: convocati 18 Azzurrini per la "Slovacchia Cup" |date=23 April 2009|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FIGC|language=it}} In August 2009, he was promoted to the U21 team aged {{frac|18|1|2}}, for the match against Wales. Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi called-up six new players in for that match, only Mattia Perin (born in November 1992) and Lorenzo Crisetig (born in January 1993) were younger than Soriano.{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/it/204/22067/2009/08/News.shtml|title=Casiraghi, 6 esordienti per il doppio impegno contro Galles e Lussemburgo |date=28 August 2010|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FIGC|language=it}} He made his debut in the first match of U21 qualification, a 2–1 loss to Wales on 4 September 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2000091--wales-vs-italy/|title=Welsh joy as Ramsey stuns Italy|date=4 September 2009|access-date=4 September 2010|publisher=UEFA }} Soriano was also involved in two of Italy's qualification matches in September and October. On 17 November, he opened the scoring for Italy in a 4–0 victory away against Luxembourg.{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2000094--luxembourg-vs-italy/|title=Barillà improves Italy's fortunes|date=17 November 2009|access-date=6 September 2010|publisher=UEFA }} In January 2010, Soriano returned to the U19 team{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/en/204/23267/2010/01/News.shtml|title=ITALY WINS 3–0 AGAINST TURKEY: IN RUSSIA IN MAY FOR EURO |date=20 January 2010|access-date=4 September 2010|work=FIGC}} and played in the elite qualification round and in the final of the tournament. On 3 September 2010, he returned to the U21 team and scored the winning goal for Azzurrini in the second last qualifying match.{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2000093--bosnia-and-herzegovina-vs-italy/|title=Soriano keeps Italy in touch with Wales|date=3 September 2010|access-date=4 September 2010|publisher=UEFA|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906132003/http://en.uefa.com/under21/matches/season=2011/round=2000006/match=2000093/index.html|archive-date=6 September 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/azzurri/2010/09/03-127357/U.21%3A+1-0+in+Bosnia%2C+Italia+ancora+in+corsa|title=U.21: 1–0 in Bosnia Italia ancora in corsa|date=3 September 2010|access-date=4 September 2010|work=Corriere dello Sport – Stadio|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229181526/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/azzurri/2010/09/03-127357/U.21:+1-0+in+Bosnia,+Italia+ancora+in+corsa|archive-date=29 February 2012}} Italy must win the last two matches and depends the result of Wales versus Hungary (which Hungary lost eventually, certainly finished second or below). Soriano played the last match of the qualifying, substituted Marrone in the 56th minute. Italy beat Wales 1–0 and finished ahead Wales as the first of Group 3, qualifying directly to play-offs round while Wales were eliminated.
In the play-offs round, he received the call-up{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/it/204/26012/2010/10/News.shtml|title=PLAY OFF: CON LA BIELORUSSIA TORNANO DE SILVESTRI, POLI, SANTON E MACHEDA
| date=1 October 2010|access-date=9 October 2010|work=FIGC|language=it}} but failed to enter the line-up nor on the bench in the first leg.
=Senior team=
On 9 November 2014, he was called up by Antonio Conte to the senior Italy squad ahead of a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Croatia and a friendly against Albania.{{cite news|title=Liverpool's Mario Balotelli recalled to Italy squad for Euro qualifier|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/09/liverpool-mario-balotelli-recalled-italy-euro-qualifier|access-date=10 November 2014|work=The Guardian|agency=Press Association|date=10 November 2014}} He debuted against Croatia at the San Siro on the 16th, replacing Manuel Pasqual in the 28th minute of a 1–1 draw.{{cite news|title=Italy cling on to hold Croatia|url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0253-0d7f7f20f59e-fca9f8b24173-1000--italy-cling-on-to-hold-croatia/|access-date=16 November 2014|publisher=UEFA|date=16 November 2014}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 8 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|roberto-soriano/72309|access-date=10 November 2019}}
| 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 |
| Empoli (loan)
|27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 2 | |||
| rowspan="6"|Sampdoria
|Serie B |13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13
|rowspan="4"|Serie A |24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14
|29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 5 | |||
| 2014–15
|33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 4 | |||
| 2015–16
|37 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2Appearances in UEFA Europa League | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 8 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!136 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 145 | 18 | |
| rowspan="3"|Villarreal
|rowspan="2"|La Liga |33 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 7Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 43 | 10 | ||
| 2017–18
|22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!55 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 73 | 10 | ||
| Torino (loan)
|Serie A |11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 1 | |||
| Bologna (loan)
|Serie A |17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 2 | |||
| rowspan="5"|Bologna
|rowspan="4"|Serie A |29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 5 | |||
| 2020–21
|37 | 9 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 9 | |||
| 2021–22
|35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23
|27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!145 | 17 | 8 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 153 | 18 | |||
| Salernitana
|Serie B |22 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 4 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!396 | 50 | 21 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 435 | 53 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 11 November 2020}}{{NFT player|57717|access-date=}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Italy
|2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 9 | 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{BDFutbol|97861}}
- {{Soccerway|roberto-soriano/72309}}
- [http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=3307&squadra=2 FIGC National Team data] {{in lang|it}}
{{US Salernitana 1919 squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Soriano, Roberto}}
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Italy men's youth international footballers
Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Italy men's international footballers
Category:German men's footballers
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:FC Bayern Munich II players
Category:Villarreal CF players
Category:Bologna FC 1909 players
Category:US Salernitana 1919 players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:German sportspeople of Italian descent
Category:People of Campanian descent
Category:Footballers from Darmstadt
Category:Footballers from Avellino