Simone Scuffet
{{Short description|Italian footballer (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Simone Scuffet
| full_name = Simone Scuffet
| image = Simone Scuffet - CFR Cluj - Lazio 0-0 (52708030789) (cropped).png
| caption = Scuffet with CFR Cluj in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|5|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = Udine, Italy
| height = 1.93 m{{cite web|url= https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/Scuffet_Simone|title=Simone Scuffet|accessdate= 9 May 2019}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Napoli
(on loan from Cagliari)
| clubnumber = 96
| youthclubs1 = Aurora Buonacquisto
| youthclubs2 = Moimacco
| youthyears1 = 2002–2004
| youthyears2 = 2004–2005
| youthyears3 = 2005–2006
| youthclubs3 = Udinese
| youthyears4 = 2006–2007
| youthclubs4 = Donatello Calcio
| youthyears5 = 2007–2013
| youthclubs5 = Udinese
| years1 = 2013–2021
| clubs1 = Udinese
| caps1 = 40
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015–2016
| clubs2 = → Como (loan)
| caps2 = 35
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019
| clubs3 = → Kasımpaşa (loan)
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2019–2020
| clubs4 = → Spezia (loan)
| caps4 = 32
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2021–2022
| clubs5 = APOEL
| caps5 = 24
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2022–2023
| clubs6 = CFR Cluj
| caps6 = 34
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2023–
| clubs7 = Cagliari
| caps7 = 44
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2025–
| clubs8 = → Napoli (loan)
| caps8 = 1
| goals8 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2012–2013
| nationalteam1 = Italy U17
| nationalcaps1 = 18
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalteam2 = Italy U18
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam3 = Italy U19
| nationalcaps3 = 12
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2016
| nationalteam4 = Italy U20
| nationalcaps4 = 2
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam5 = Italy U21
| nationalcaps5 = 8
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{medal|Country|{{fb|ITA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|UEFA European U17 Championship}}
{{Medal|RU|2013|}}
| club-update = 23:55, 7 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 11 October 2018
}}
Simone Scuffet ({{IPA|it|siˈmoːne skufˈfɛt}}; born 31 May 1996) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{Italian football updater|Napoli}} club Napoli, on loan from Cagliari.
Club career
=Udinese=
An Udinese youth product, Scuffet made his first team debut on 1 February 2014 at the age of 17 in a Serie A match against Bologna, as a replacement for injured Željko Brkić.{{cite news|title=Bologna 0-2 Udinese|url=http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/377098/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901|accessdate=1 February 2014|newspaper=ESPN|date=1 February 2014}} After a string of impressive performances, he was subsequently promoted as first choice keeper, relegating Brkić on the bench.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2014/04/06/4730259/the-new-buffon-introducing-italys-17-year-old-goalkeeping |title='The new Buffon' - introducing Italy's 17-year-old goalkeeping wonderkid Simone Scuffet |publisher=Goal.com |author1=Claudio D'Amato |date=6 April 2014 |accessdate=6 October 2018 }}
On 9 June 2014, following a successful debut season, Scuffet signed a new five-year deal with the club.{{cite web|title=Udinese: Scuffet rinnova fino al 2019|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2014/06/09/udinese-scuffet-rinnova-fino-al-2019_f0ed51e3-da40-4766-9ace-0dafc6ca1cd9.html|publisher=ANSA.it|accessdate=9 June 2014|date=9 June 2014}} He failed to get the same level of game time during the 2014–15 season with Orestis Karnezis preferred as the first-choice goalkeeper at Udinese. On 8 December 2014, he Scuffet was named at the #1 spot in the goalkeepers category as part of Outside of the Boot's 100 Best Young Players to Watch in 2015 feature.{{cite web|title=100 Best Young Players to Watch in 2015 (Goalkeepers 5-1)|url=http://outsideoftheboot.com/2014/12/09/100-best-young-players-2015-goalkeepers/|publisher=outsideoftheboot.com|accessdate=8 December 2014|date=8 December 2014}} On 16 December 2014, he was named at the #1 spot as FutbolSapiens's 10 Best Young Goalkeepers of the Year feature.{{cite web|title=Los 10 mejores arqueros jóvenes del año|url=http://www.futbolsapiens.com/crema-y-nata/los-10-mejores-arqueros-jovenes-del-ano/|language=Spanish|accessdate=16 December 2014|date=16 December 2014}}
==Various loans==
On 6 August 2015, Scuffet was sent out on loan to Serie B side Como.{{cite web |url=http://www.calciocomo1907.it/news_details.php?id_news=2331 |title=DANIEL BESSA E SIMONE SCUFFET SONO DUE GIOCATORI DEL COMO |publisher=www.calciocomo1907.it |language=Italian |date=6 August 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2019 }} Although he was able to obtain more playing time at Como, he endured a negative season with the club, as he conceded 52 goals, while Como finished in last place in the league and were relegated to Lega Pro at the end of the 2015–16 Serie B season.{{cite web |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/calcio/nuove-forze-calcio/12-05-2016/scuffet-no-atletico-madrid-scuola-rimpianti-retrocessione-como-donnarumma-udinese-prestito-150602396322.shtml |title=Scuffet e quel no all'Atletico Madrid: "Non ho rimpianti, volevo stare a Udine" |publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=Italian |last1=Bianchin |first1=Luca |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2019 }}
On 16 January 2019, Scuffet joined Turkish side Kasımpaşa on loan until 30 June.{{cite web |url=http://www.udinese.it/news/squadra/scuffet-al-kasimpasa |title=SCUFFET AL KASIMPASA |publisher=www.udinese.it |language=Italian |date=16 January 2019 |accessdate=15 February 2019 }}
On 19 August 2019, Scuffet joined Serie B club Spezia on loan until 30 June 2020 with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-udinese-simone-scuffet-va-in-prestito-allo-spezia-1281575|access-date=20 August 2019|title=UFFICIALE: Udinese, Simone Scuffet va in prestito allo Spezia}} He was the starting goalkeeper throughout the season, which ended with the club achieving promotion to Serie A.{{cite news |title=Storico Spezia, prima volta in A. Out il Frosinone |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-b/2020/08/20/spezia-frosinone-risultato-gol |work=Sky Sport |date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129101747/https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-b/2020/08/20/spezia-frosinone-risultato-gol |archive-date=29 November 2020 |language=it}}
==Return to Udinese==
File:Simone Scuffet (cropped).jpg in 2019.]]
In July 2020, Scuffet returned to Udinese. On 28 October, he returned between the sticks for the club, playing as a starter in the Italian Cup match against Vicenza, which finished in a 3–1 win. On 2 May 2021, due to a suspension of starting goalkeeper Juan Musso, he returned to Serie A action for the 2–1 defeat against Juventus in which he conceded two goals to Cristiano Ronaldo.{{cite news |last1=Pezzini |first1=Daniele |title=Serie A, Udinese-Juventus 1-2: Pirlo aggancia Milan e Atalanta |url=https://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/seriea/serie-a-udinese-juventus1-2-pirlo-aggancia-milan-e-atalanta_31753081-202102k.shtml |access-date=6 April 2022 |work=Sport Mediaset |date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830065939/https://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/seriea/serie-a-udinese-juventus1-2-pirlo-aggancia-milan-e-atalanta_31753081-202102k.shtml |archive-date=30 August 2021 |language=it}}
=APOEL=
On 30 August 2021, Scuffet signed a two-year contract with Cypriot First Division club APOEL.{{cite web |title=Scuffet ceduto all'Apoel Nicosia |url=https://www.udinese.it/news/squadra/scuffet-ceduto-allapoel-nicosia |website=Udinese Calcio |access-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831085035/https://www.udinese.it/news/squadra/scuffet-ceduto-allapoel-nicosia |archive-date=31 August 2021 |language=it |date=30 August 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Συμφωνία μετεγγραφής με Udinese Calcio για Simone Scuffet |url=https://www.apoelfc.com.cy/article/symfonia-meteggrafis-me-udinese-calcio-gia-simone-scuffet |website=APOEL FC |access-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831085225/https://www.apoelfc.com.cy/article/symfonia-meteggrafis-me-udinese-calcio-gia-simone-scuffet |archive-date=31 August 2021 |language=el |date=30 August 2021 |url-status=live}}
=CFR Cluj=
On 17 July 2022, Scuffet joined Romanian Liga I champions CFR Cluj on a free transfer.{{Cite web |title=CFR 1907 {{!}} BUN VENIT, SIMONE SCUFFET |url=https://cfr1907.ro/bun-venit-simone-scuffet/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |trans-title=Welcome, Simone Scuffet}}
=Cagliari=
On 14 July 2023, Scuffet joined Serie A club Cagliari on a deal for a transfer fee reportedly worth €2 million plus €1 million in bonuses.[https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/liga-1/cum-poate-cfr-cluj-sa-castige-aproape-un-milion-de-euro-in-mai-putin-de-o-luna-fara-sa-faca-nimic-2952861 Cum poate CFR Cluj să câștige aproape un milion de euro în mai puțin de o lună fără să facă nimic]
==Loan to Napoli==
On 7 January 2025, Scuffet was loaned to Napoli for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|url=https://sscnapoli.it/en/ufficiale-scuffet-e-un-nuovo-calciatore-del-napoli/|title=Scuffet joins Napoli on loan|publisher=SSC Napoli|date=7 January 2025|access-date=7 January 2025}}
International career
Scuffet has represented Italy U-17 team at both the 2013 UEFA European Under-17 Championship – where they reached the final – and the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Mexico.
In March and in April 2014 he was called up by Italy senior coach Cesare Prandelli to join two training camps ahead of the 2014 World Cup.{{cite web|title=Test a Coverciano: prima chiamata per Romulo e Berardi, torna Cassano|url=http://www.figc.it/it/204/2523796/2014/04/News.shtml|publisher=FIGC|accessdate=13 April 2014|language=Italian|date=11 April 2014}}
He made his first appearance for the Italy U-21 team on 12 August 2015, in a friendly match against Hungary. In June 2017, he was included in the Italy under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Luigi Di Biagio.{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/103752/u21-italy-squad-euros-named|title=U21: Italy squad for Euros named|publisher=Football Italia|date=6 June 2017|accessdate=16 June 2017}}
Style of play
Scuffet has earned praise in the media for his reflexes, confidence, consistency, calm composure, leadership qualities, and precocious performances as a youngster, which have earned him comparisons with former Italy national football team goalkeeper and 2006 World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon, who also made his Serie A debut as a teenager.{{cite web |url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/esteri/2013/11/08/news/nazionale_under_17_nigeria_mondiale-70546571/index.html |title=Mondiale Under 17, Nigeria campione. Spettacolo e tante piccole stelle |publisher=La Repubblica |language=Italian |date=8 November 2013 |accessdate=6 October 2018 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Udinese/29-03-2014/buffon-scuffet-sereno-sicuro-ha-esordito-come-me-gran-portiere-80336706849.shtml|title=Buffon su Scuffet: "Sereno e sicuro, ha esordito come me: un gran portiere"|trans-title=Buffon on Scuffet: "Calm and well-tempered, he made his debut like me: a great keeper"|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|author1=Mirko Graziano|language=Italian|accessdate=1 June 2015|date=29 March 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/3785/generazione-di-fenomeni/2014/03/07/4666095/profilo-simone-schuffet-golden-boy-dei-pali-orgoglio|title=Profilo: Simone Scuffet|trans-title=Profile: Simone Scuffet|publisher=Goal.com|author1=Claudio D'Amato|language=Italian|accessdate=1 June 2015|date=28 March 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/47570/world-cup-squad-selector-scuffet |title=World Cup Squad Selector: Scuffet |publisher=Football Italia |author1=Luca Persico |date=8 April 2014 |accessdate=6 October 2018 }} In 2014 Don Balón listed him as one of the top 100 young players in the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercatonews.com/2014/11/19/la-top-101-dei-giovani-piu-promettenti-di-don-balon-quanti-italiani/|title=La Top 101 dei giovani più promettenti di 'Don Balon': quanti italiani!|trans-title=The Top 101 most promising young players of 'Don Balon': look how many Italians!|publisher=Calcio Mercato News|language=Italian|date=19 November 2014|accessdate=1 June 2015}} His ability to come out off his line and his confidence when handling crosses and high balls have been cited as areas for improvement by pundits, however.{{cite web |title=Il misterioso caso di Simone Scuffet |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2018/02/07/simone-scuffet-che-fine-ha-fatto.html |publisher=sport.sky.it |language=Italian |last1=Principi |first1=Federico |date=7 February 2018 |accessdate=15 February 2019 }}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 7 April 2025}}{{Soccerway|simone-scuffet/273826}}
| 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|National cup !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=7|Udinese
|rowspan=6|Serie A |16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18
|6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19
|9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21
|1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!40 | 0 | 9 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 49 | 0 | |||
| Como (loan)
|35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 35 | 0 | |||
| Kasımpaşa (loan)
|10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 11 | 0 | |||
| Spezia (loan)
|Serie B |32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 4{{efn|Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs}} | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| APOEL
|24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 24 | 0 | |||
| CFR Cluj
|34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Liga I European play-offs}} | 0 | 49 | 0 | |
| rowspan=3|Cagliari
|rowspan=2|Serie A |31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 31 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 15 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!44 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 46 | 0 | |||
| Napoli (loan)
|Serie A |1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!221 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 252 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Napoli
- Serie A: 2024–25{{Cite news |last=Millar |first=Colin |last2=Alexander |first2=Duncan |date=2025-05-23 |title=Napoli win Serie A as final-day victory vs Cagliari beats Inter to title |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6349268/2025/05/23/napoli-serie-a-title-mctominay-lukaku/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
Italy U17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship runner-up: 2013
Individual
- CFR Cluj Player of the Year: 2022–23
References
{{Reflist}}
{{SSC Napoli squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scuffet, Simone}}
Category:Footballers from Udine
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Italy men's youth international footballers
Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Udinese Calcio players
Category:Kasımpaşa S.K. footballers
Category:Spezia Calcio players
Category:Cagliari Calcio players
Category:Cypriot First Division players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus
Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus