 Cerci playing for Torino in 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alessio Cerci[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1987-07-23)23 July 1987 (age 38) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Velletri, Italy | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2006 | Roma | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2010 | Roma | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | →Brescia (loan) | 21 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | →Pisa (loan) | 26 | (10) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | →Atalanta (loan) | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Fiorentina | 47 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Torino | 71 | (21) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Atlético Madrid | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | →AC Milan (loan) | 29 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | →Genoa (loan) | 11 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Verona | 24 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Ankaragücü | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Salernitana | 10 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Arezzo | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 299 | (52) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Italy | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Alessio Cerci (Italian pronunciation:[aˈlɛssjoˈtʃɛrtʃi];[citation needed] born 23 July 1987) is an Italian former professionalfootballer who played as awinger.
Cerci started his professional football career atRoma, playing four times for the first team before serving periods on loan atBrescia,Pisa andAtalanta. He returned to Roma in 2009, where he sporadically played underClaudio Ranieri and was sold toFiorentina in August 2010. After two seasons inFlorence, he transferred toTorino in June 2012.[3] In September 2014, he was sold to Atlético Madrid, before returning to Italy to play forAC Milan and Genoa.
Internationally, Cerci has represented Italy fromunder-16 tounder-21 youth levels. He made his senior international debut in March 2013 afriendly match againstBrazil[4] and was included in their squads for that year'sConfederations Cup and the following year'sWorld Cup, winning a bronze medal in the former competition.
Cerci grew up playing football inValmontone before joining theRoma youth system. At this time, he was nicknamed "l'Henry di Valmontone" ("theThierry Henry of Valmontone") due to his playing style.[5] On 16 May 2004, he made his debut inSerie A at the age of 16 underFabio Capello in the 76th minute againstSampdoria, ending 0–0.[6] The following season, he was a key player in the Roma under-19 side that won theCampionato Primavera 2004–05. With the first team, he made an additional two appearances, playing the final minutes againstInternazionale andCagliari.
On 21 March 2005, Cerci signed his first professional contract with Roma for three years.[7] However, he mostly continued to play with the youth team (winning the second edition of the Wojtyła Cup) and making just one appearance for the first team againstChievo on 30 April 2006.[8]
On 18 August 2006, Cerci was loaned toBrescia inSerie B. He made his debut in the cadets on 15 September in a 1–1 draw againstBari. He played 21 times for Brescia (mostly as a substitute), helping the team finish the season in sixth place.
Cerci returned to Roma at the end of the season, before being loaned toPisa in 2007. Pisa was then a newly promoted side in Serie B and coached byGian Piero Ventura, who quickly made Cerci a starter in his formation against Bari andFrosinone. On 9 September 2007, Cerci scored his first official goal, in a 1–2 victory away toCesena. On 25 September, he scored again againstTriestina before repeating himself againstTreviso,Ascoli andAlbinoLeffe.[9] On 30 October 2007, he scored the first brace of his career during a 3–3 draw toModena, scoring another two against Cesena on 9 February 2008.
On 12 February, however, he suffered a knee injury against his former club Brescia that sidelined him for two months. He returned on 12 April, but after just seven days back, was stretchered off the field after a bad fall.Magnetic resonance imaging highlighted that Cerci had broken hismeniscus and had inflammation to hisanterior cruciate ligament. On 26 April 2008, he was operated on inRome by the same doctor that had operated onFrancesco Totti just days before, sidelining him for four months. His first season was ended prematurely with ten goals in 26 appearances, along with seven assists.
Returning to Roma, Cerci was prepared to stay in the capital to play in Serie A, but on 25 July 2008, was loaned out toAtalanta for €250,000 with the right to purchase the player inco-ownership for €2.75 million. Cerci once again selected the number 11 shirt, making his debut for theNerazzurri against Chievo. However, numerous injuries throughout the season limited him just to 11 appearances with no goals scored.
Cerci returned to play for Roma in the2009–10 season, scoring his first official goal for the club on 27 August 2009, a 4–0 victory againstKošice in theUEFA Europa League playoffs (7–1 on aggregate). In the league, Cerci played the first four matches againstGenoa,Juventus,Catania andNapoli, butClaudio Ranieri would later bench him and mostly play him in the Europa League. On 16 December 2009, he scored a brace duringCSKA Sofia–Roma (0–3), the final match of the group stages. He made a further appearance for the club in the second round against Greek sidePanathinaikos, providing an assist in the first round forDavid Pizarro. Cerci finished the season with a total of 19 appearances for Roma in Europe and Serie A, with three goals.
On 26 August 2010,Fiorentina signed Cerci outright from Roma for €4 million to be paid over the next three seasons.[10][11][12]
Cerci made his debut for Fiorentina in the 29 August 2010 match against Napoli, ending 1–1,[13] and scored his first goal in Serie A on 7 November 2010 against Chievo (1–0).[14] Near the end of the season, Cerci scored six goals in five games, with two braces.[15] He concluded the season with 26 appearances and seven goals in the league, plus one goal inCoppa Italia againstReggina.[16] However, Cerci had a difficult rapport with Fiorentina and its supporters.[17] During his time atFlorence, he was accused of overindulging in the city nightlife and was famous for illegally parking hisMaserati around the city centre.[6][17] On one occasion, he was fined for refusing to move his car after he parked it in a space reserved for police.[18][19]
In the summer of 2011, Cerci became the focus of a transfer toManchester City under the direct request of its manager,Roberto Mancini.[20] Just as the deal seemed imminent, however, Cerci decided to stay in Florence, having resolved his issue with the fans.[21]
In the 2011–12 season, Cerci scored his first goal during Coppa Italia againstCittadella (2–1), and the first of two goals againstBologna (2–0) in the opening round of the league.[22] He repeated himself againstParma,Lazio andLecce, but erratic performances and a difficult relationship with the fans called into question his permanence in Florence.
On 23 August 2012, Cerci was sold toTorino[23] under aco-ownership agreement for €2.5 million.[24][25] AtTurin, he was reunited withGian Piero Ventura, who had already coached him at Pisa.[26] He made his debut for Torino on 1 September 2012 againstPescara,[27] and 30 September 2012 was a key player against Atalanta, with three assists created.[28] He scored his first goal for theGranata on 25 November, producing the first goal in a 2–2 draw against Fiorentina.[29] On 13 January 2013, he scored his second goal of the season in a 3–2 home victory toSiena.[30] He repeated himself in the next round, scoring the 2–0 away against Pescara.[31] He scored his fourth goal for Torino on 17 February, a match won 2–1 against Atalanta.[32]
He concluded his first season at Torino with eight goals and eight assists, also scoring in the final two matches of the2012–13 season against Chievo and Catania.[33][34]
On 20 June 2013, the co-ownership agreement between Torino and Fiorentina was resolved in favour of Torino for €3.8 million, confirming him for the next season, and takingMarko Bakić permanently to Fiorentina.[35][36]
For the2013–14 season, Gian Piero Ventura began fielding Cerci as asecond striker rather than a rightwinger, a role in which he began to score with greater continuity.[37] He scored his first goal of the season in the opening round againstSassuolo, won 2–0.[38] He scored again in September against Bologna[39] andMilan,[40] before scoring his first brace for Torino againstHellas Verona on 25 September.[41] He scored again on 6 October in a 2–2 draw away to Sampdoria,[42] also providing two assists and a goal againstLivorno on 30 October.[43] On 3 November, Cerci ended Roma's record ten-match winning streak, scoring the 1–1 at home for Torino.[44][45]
On 22 December, Cerci ended his mini goal drought, scoring the 4–1 against Chievo, also providing two assists.[46][47] On 26 January 2014, he scored a decisive penalty against Atalanta to give Torino the win 1–0,[48] and on 17 February, scored the second Torino goal in a 3–1 win away to Hellas Verona, breaking his personal record for goals scored during his season at Pisa.[49] With teammateCiro Immobile suspended, Cerci was the difference in a 2–1 againstCagliari, assisting the first goal and scoring the second on 30 March.[50] On 13 April, Immobile and Cerci scored in stoppage time, Cerci with the last kick of the match, to secure a 2–1 win againstGenoa.[51] However, on the last match–day of the season, Torino initially missed out on an UEFA Europa League playoff spot to Parma in sixth–place when Cerci missed a decisive injury–time penalty in a 2–2 away draw against his former club Fiorentina.[52] Nevertheless, Parma failed to obtain a UEFA licence, which meant that Torino, who finished seventh in Serie A, progressed to thethird qualifying round of the 2014–15 Europa League in their place.[53][54] This was the first time in 20 years that Torino had qualified for anUEFA club competition, with their last participation occurring in the1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup.[52] Cerci ended his season with 13 goals and also 11 assists, the most inSerie A.[55]
On 1 September 2014, Cerci signed a three-year deal withLa Liga title holdersAtlético Madrid for a transfer fee believed to be around €16 million.[56] He debuted for the club 19 days later, replacingRaúl Jiménez for the final eight minutes of a 2–2 home draw againstCelta de Vigo. Alessio Cerci scored his first goal for the club in a 5–0 win over Malmö FF in the Champions League.[57] On 4 October, after coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 defeat atValencia, he was sent off for handball.[58] The decision was taken to terminate Cerci's contract on 30 June 2017.[59]
On 5 January 2015, Cerci returned to Serie A to joinAC Milan on an 18-month-long loan deal.[60] On the same day the loan was agreed,Fernando Torres went the opposite way to Atlético in exchange.[61] Cerci made his debut the next day in a 2–1 defeat at the hands of Sassuolo.[62] He scored his first goal as a Milan player on 4 April 2015 in a 2–1 away win againstPalermo.
On 22 January 2016, Cerci was loaned to Genoa.[63] He scored 4 goals in 11 Serie B games.
On 10 July 2017, Cerci was signed byVerona.[64]
On 17 August 2018, Cerci signed a three-year contract withAnkaragücü.[65]
On 7 August 2019, Cerci signed withSerie B clubSalernitana.[66]
On 9 October 2020, Cerci signed forSerie C clubArezzo.[67] In March 2021, he was banned from training by the club after an altercation during training. On 23 April 2021, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[68][69]
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He played in all the Italian national youth teams, fromItaly U-16 toItaly U-21.
After his positive start to the season at Pisa, Cerci was called up to theItaly under-21 by coachPierluigi Casiraghi.[70]
On 17 March 2013, Cerci was called up for the first time to theItalian senior squad byCesare Prandelli for a friendly match againstBrazil and2014 FIFA World Cup qualification againstMalta.[4] He debuted in the latter match on 21 March, replacingAndrea Pirlo in the 46th minute of a 2–2 draw with Brazil in Geneva.[71] On 16 May 2013, Cerci was included in the list of 31 provisional players ahead of the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil,[72] with his place confirmed in the final list submitted on 3 June.[73] He made his only appearance in the competition on 16 June, in Italy's opening group match, a 2–1 victory overMexico at theMaracanã Stadium, coming on as a second–half substitute forClaudio Marchisio;[74] Italy finished the tournament in third place.[75]
On 11 April 2014, Cerci was included in the list of 30 provisional players byCesare Prandelli for the2014 World Cup in Brazil,[76] with his place confirmed in the final 23–man squad on 1 June.[77] He made his only appearance in the tournament in Italy's second group match on 20 June, a 1–0 defeat toCosta Rica, coming on as a substitute for Marchisio in the second half;[78] Italy ultimately suffered a first–round exit.[79]
Cerci is a naturally left footed player, with excellent technique, vision and remarkable quickness, playing mainly as awinger or as anattacking midfielder on the flank. He can play on both wings, but prefers the right, from which he can cut inside and shoot or providecrosses andassists with his stronger foot. His playing style has drawn comparisons toArjen Robben.[80][81]
During the 2013–14 Serie A season with Torino, he began to be used regularly in a creative, supporting role as asecond striker, alongside the club's more offensive–minded centre-forward or striker Ciro Immobile.[82] He was also used as an outrightforward on occasion under Torino manager Gian Piero Ventura.[83]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Roma | 2003–04 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8[b] | 3 | 19 | 3 | ||
| Total | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 3 | ||
| Brescia (loan) | 2006–07 | Serie B | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | |
| Pisa (loan) | 2007–08 | Serie B | 26 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | 28 | 10 | |
| Atalanta (loan) | 2008–09 | Serie A | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| Fiorentina | 2010–11 | Serie A | 24 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | 27 | 8 | |
| 2011–12 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 3 | — | 26 | 8 | |||
| Total | 47 | 12 | 6 | 4 | — | 53 | 16 | |||
| Torino | 2012–13 | Serie A | 35 | 8 | — | — | 35 | 8 | ||
| 2013–14 | 36 | 13 | 1 | 0 | — | 37 | 13 | |||
| Total | 71 | 21 | 1 | 0 | — | 72 | 21 | |||
| Atlético Madrid | 2014–15 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| 2016–17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | ||
| Milan (loan) | 2014–15 | Serie A | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | |
| 2015–16 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | |||
| Genoa (loan) | 2015–16 | Serie A | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 4 | |
| Hellas Verona | 2017–18 | Serie A | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 3 | |
| Ankaragücü | 2018–19 | Süper Lig | 12 | 1 | 4 | 4 | — | 16 | 5 | |
| Salernitana | 2019–20 | Serie B | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | 0 | |
| Arezzo | 2020–21 | Serie C | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 | 0 | |
| Career total | 299 | 52 | 26 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 335 | 64 | ||
| Italy | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 0 |
Roma Youth
Italy
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Italy squads | |||||||
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