MATTIA DESTRO

Who is he? Where does he play?

Destro is a 22 year old Italian striker who has already broken into the full Azzurri squad and has just moved to Roma on a permanent basis after spending last year on loan at the Stadio Olimpico. He will be hoping to build on his good form in a bid to make next year's World Cup.

His route to Roma was a bit confusing wasn't it?

Yes it was. After starting off with Inter Milan where he impressed with the youth teams, Destro joined Genoa as part of an exchange deal for Andrea Ranocchia. After spending a year with Genoa, he was off to Siena for a 1.5 million euro co-ownership deal. He scored 12 goals for them, attracting the interest of Roma, who forced Genoa to buy him back fully off Siena, before he was loaned to Roma for 11.5 million euros. He hit 6 goals in 21 games in the capital, sparking Roma to make the deal permanent for an extra 4.5 million euros. 

Understand that? No, me neither.....

So Roma seem to rate him then?

He was signed originally as a replacement for Fabio Borini who left for Liverpool and it is possible to see the resemblance. He is technically gifted, able to glide into space to create chances for others, he provided 20 last season, and an 81% pass success rate is impressive for a player in the final third. Although his year in Rome has been slightly disappointing in terms of goals, Destro's main strengths lie with his pace and finishing, best shown by his prolific time at Siena.

That was noticed by the Italy side, right?

He has represented, and scored, at every national level from the under-16s upwards, even managing to hit 16 goals in 14 games for the under 19s. After this good form, he was included in Cesare Prandelli's 32-man provisional squad for the under-21 European Championships, but missed the final cut. He has since earned 4 caps for the full-squad, making his debut in the 1-2 defeat to England and scoring his first goal in a win over Malta in qualifying for next year's World Cup in Brazil. Destro is currently out in Israel with the under-21 squad, hoping to start a pivotal year in good form.

You can see him in action here; for Siena 2011/2012

                                               and for Roma 2012/2013