Matteo Pessina
Matteo Pessina (born 21 April 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Atalanta and the Italy national team. Club career. Coming from the youth system, Pessina began his senior career in 2014 at hometown club Monza. In 2015 he moved to Milan, from where he was loaned out to Lecce, Catania, and Como. On 7 July 2017, Pessina signed a contract with Atalanta. On 25 August, he was signed on loan by Spezia. On 26 August 2019, Pessina joined Hellas Verona on loan with an option to buy. On 10 February 2021 , he scored 2 goals in a 3–1 win against Napoli in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, which allowed Atalanta to progress to the final. International career. Pessina was a member of the Italy U20 side that finished in third place at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Pessina made his debut with the U21 team on 5 October 2017, in a 6–2 friendly win against Hungary in Budapest. Pessina was called up to the Italy senior squad by manager Roberto Mancini in November 2020, and made his senior debut for Italy on 11 November, featuring as  a substitute in a 4–0 friendly win against Estonia in Florence. On 28 May 2021, Pessina scored his first goal for Italy in the 75th minute of a 7–0 home win in a friendly against San Marino; he scored a second goal in the 87th minute. In June 2021, he was included in Italy's preliminary squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini, but he was initially left out of the final 26-man squad for the tournament. However, following an injury to Stefano Sensi, Pessina was called up to the tournament in his place. He made his  first appearance in the tournament as a late substitute in Italy's group match against Switzerland on 16 June, a 3–0 win for Italy. He then started in the match against Wales on 20 June, scoring the only goal of the match in the team's 1–0 victory in Rome; the result allowed them to top their group. On 26 June, after coming off the bench for Nicolò Barella, Pessina scored the match–winning goal in a 2–1 win in extra-time over Austria in the round of 16, which allowed Italy to progress to the quarter-finals. On 11  July, Pessina won the European Championship with Italy following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1–1 draw in extra-time. Style of play. Primarily a central midfielder, Pessina is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder. A left-footed player, he possesses good technique, and is known for his ability to create chances for teammates or make late attacking runs off the ball into the penalty area; he is also known for his defensive qualities and work-rate. In his position, he has been likened to midfielders Steven Gerrard  and Frank Lampard for his surging runs and eye for goal. He has cited both English midfielders among his idols growing up. Honours. Italy U20 Italy Orders