Francesco Acerbi

Francesco Acerbi

Francesco Acerbi with Milan
Personal information
Date of birth10 February 1988
Place of birthVizzolo Predabissi, Italy
Height1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current team
Sassuolo
Number15
Youth career
Pavia
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2010Pavia48(3)
2007→ Renate (loan)1(0)
2007–2008→ Spezia (loan)0(0)
2010–2011Reggina40(2)
2011–2012Chievo17(1)
2012–2013Milan6(0)
2013Genoa0(0)
2013→ Chievo (loan)7(0)
2013–Sassuolo37(3)
National team‡
2014–Italy1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of (13:22, 19 April 2015 (UTC)).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 April 2015

Francesco Acerbi (Italian pronunciation: [franˈtʃesko aˈtʃɛrbi]; born 10 February 1988) is an Italian professional footballer who plays for Sassuolo in Serie A, mainly as a central defender.

Club career

Pavia

Born in Vizzolo Predabissi, Lombardy, Acerbi started his career at Lombard team Pavia. He made his league debut on 23 April 2006.[1] He then loaned to Serie D team Renate on 11 January 2007[2] and played a club friendly on the same day.[3] He made his official debut on 28 January, a 0–0 draw with Palazzolo.[4] However he returned to Pavia on 30 January[5] and played the last round of 2006–07 Serie C2.[6]

On 2 August he was loaned to Triestina[7] and loaned to Spezia on 16 August. However he only played for its Primavera under-20 team.[8] He returned to Pavia on 1 July and became a regular of the first team. He played both legs of 2009–10 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione promotion playoffs and finished as losing semi-finalists.[9][10] However the team promoted as some teams were expelled from the league due to financial problems.

Reggina

He received a call-up to the pre-season camp of Serie B team Reggina on 13 July[11] and the co-ownership deal completed on 16 July.[12] On 31 January 2011 Pavia sold the remain 50% registration rights to Reggina for undisclosed fee and the Calabrian side formed another co-ownership deal with Serie A team Genoa for €1 million.[13][14] He only missed 2 games in 2010–11 Serie B and played both legs of promotion playoffs, losing to the playoffs winner Novara in the semi-final.[15][16] He played once in 2010–11 Coppa Italia, which he was sent off. He was suspended in the next cup match[17] and not included in the third round.[18]

Chievo

On 24 June 2011 Genoa bought the remaining 50% registration rights from Reggina for €2.2 million[13] and sent Antonino Ragusa to Reggio Calabria. On 1 July 2011 he was sold to Chievo in a co-ownership deal for €2 million,[13] as part of the deal that Kevin Constant transferred to Genoa for €7.8 million; co-currently Ivan Fatic returned to Chievo for €200,000 in June 2011.[13][19] Acerbi entered the starting XI in the second half of the season (14 starts), partnering Marco Andreolli (9 games), Dario Dainelli (3 games) and Boštjan Cesar (2 games).

Milan

Acerbi next to Real Madrid's Pepe during A.C. Milan against Real Madrid

On 20 June 2012 Milan bought Chievo's share on Acerbi, with Genoa retained 50% registration rights. Co-currently, Milan signed Kévin Constant in temporary deal from Genoa.[20] In July 2012 Isaac Cofie joined Chievo from Genoa as part of financial compensation. Genoa revealed in the financial report of 2012 calendar year, that, Genoa bought back 50% registration rights of Acerbi for €3.75 million, and sold to Milan for €4 million, while Cofie cost Chievo €1.5 million.[21] The deals effectively made Genoa profited €250,000 as middle man, and Chievo got new compensation for Constant's price tag.

Acerbi debuted in Milan's 3-1 win over Bologna. However, he failed to gain a stable place in starting line-up and left the club during winter transfer window.

Genoa and Chievo

On 26 January 2013, AC Milan purchased a half of rights for Kevin Constant for €4 million.[22] Acerbi, as a part of a deal, moved to Genoa also for €4 million,[22] from where his previous club Chievo loaned him back, for €300,000.[23] He made 7 appearances in the secold half of 2012-13 season.

Sassuolo

On 9 July 2013 Sassuolo, recently promoted into Serie A side, made an official statement about the transfer of Acerbi. Only a half of contract rights was bought, for €1.8 million,[23] another remained a propriety of Genoa.[24]

During pre-season medical check-up, a tumor in his testicles was discovered. Immediately, he underwent surgery in Milan. Soon after the tumor had been removed, he resumed training sessions with his new teammates. Acerbi had taken part in 13 games of Serie A 2013-14 season (mostly as a starter) before he failed his doping test on 1 December 2013. The player denied accusations of using doping, claiming that a positive result might be caused by side-effects of the medicine he had been taking to reconcile the consequences of surgery. During the extra check-up it was revealed that a tumor returned and Acerbi was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This time he underwent a course of chemotherapy to treat the disease. On 15 March 2014 he announced that his life was not in danger anymore and expressed his readiness to play football again. It was also reported that Acerbi did not miss the majority of trainings during that time he had been receiving treatment.[25]

International career

Acerbi capped once for the Italy under-20 Lega Pro representative team at the first match of 2008–09 Mirop Cup, losing to Hungary U-20 team.[26]

On 10 August 2012 Acerbi received his first senior team call-up from Cesare Prandelli.[27]

He made his debut on 18 November 2014 in a 1–0 friendly win over Albania in Genoa, playing the full 90 minutes.[28]

Career statistics

Club statistic
As of 9 January 2013 (UTC)[29]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Pavia 2005–06 1020000030
2006–07 1000000010
2008–09 222300000252
2009–10 241100000251
Total 48 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 54 3
Renate 2006–07 1000000010
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Reggina 2010–11 402100000412
Total 40 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 41 2
Chievo 2011–12 171300000201
Total 17 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 20 1
Milan 2012–13 60200020100
Total 6 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 10 0
Chievo (loan) 2012–13 7000000070
Total 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Sassuolo 2013–14 130000000130
2014–15 24300000071
Total 37 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 1
Career total 139 7 12 0 0 0 2 0 153 7

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Chianese e Pavia super" (REQUIRE LOGIN). La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 24 April 2006. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "CALCIOMERCATO, la linea è sempre più verde: preso un classe '88 dal PAVIA". AC Renate (in Italian). 11 January 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "L'amichevole a Pavia finisce 4 a 2: le reti realizzate da due ex...". AC Renate (in Italian). 11 January 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "Pianeta neroazzurro Anno 02 - Numero 04 (2006–07 season)" (PDF). AC Renate (in Italian). 10 February 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "La linea è sempe verde: dalla Pro Sesto arriva Stefano Bazzo". AC Renate (in Italian). 30 January 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "La doppietta di Araboni non basta alla Pro Sesto" (REQUIRE LOGIN). La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 14 May 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Deposito Trasferimenti Calciatori - Stagione Sportiva 2007/2008". Lega Calcio. ca. September 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2011. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ "Primavera: Torino - Spezia = 3 - 2". Torino FC (in Italian). 13 January 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Sangiovannese, la casa amica". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 24 May 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  10. ↑ "Varese e Pescara basta il pareggio". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 30 May 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "I convocati per il ritiro". Reggina Calcio (in Italian). 13 July 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "Trattative concluse". Reggina Calcio (in Italian). 17 July 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Genoa CFC SpA Report and Accounts on 31 December 2011 (Italian)
  14. ↑ "UFFICIALIZZATI ACERBI E RODRIGUEZ" [Officialization Acerbi & Rodriguez]. Genoa CFC (in Italian). 31 January 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  15. ↑ "La Reggina non decolla Il Novara vede la finale". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 3 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  16. ↑ "Prodezza di Rigoni La Reggina piange". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 6 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  17. ↑ "COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 23 (2010–11 season)". Lega Serie A (in Italian). 20 August 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  18. ↑ "Tim Cup: I convocati amaranto". Reggina Calcio (in Italian). 29 November 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  19. ↑ "Ufficiale: Kevin Constant al Genoa" [Official: Kevin Constant to Genoa]. AC ChievoVerona (in Italian). 1 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  20. ↑ "DEFINITE TRATTATIVE CHIEVO E MILAN" (in Italian). Genoa CFC. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  21. ↑ Genoa CFC SpA Report and Accounts on 31 December 2012 (Italian)
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 AC Milan SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2013 (Italian)
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Genoa CFC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2013 (Italian), PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA
  24. ↑ "Ufficiali gli arrivi in casa neroverde di Francesco Acerbi e Simone Zaza" (in Italian). US Sassuolo Calcio. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  25. ↑ http://www.football-italia.net/46478/acerbi-ready-return
  26. ↑ "Per l'Italia avvio amaro nella Mirop Cup". Lega Pro (in Italian). 1 October 2008. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  27. ↑ Convocazione Nazionale "A". Italian Football Federation.
  28. ↑ "International friendly: Italy edge to narrow 1-0 victory over Albania in Genoa". Sky Sports. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "Italy – F. Acerbi". soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 September 2012.

External links