Stefano Sturaro’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Stefano Sturaro (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsteːfano stuˈraːro]; born 9 March 1993) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Juventus and the Italy national team.

Sturaro began his career with local club Sanremese, and was signed by Genoa in 2008. After four years in the Genoese youth system he was loaned to Modena in 2012. He returned to Genoa in 2013, with whom he made his Serie A debut on 25 August 2013. In July 2014 he moved to Juventus, where he won consecutive the domestic doubles in his first two seasons with the club.

At international level, he also represented Italy at under-18 and under-19 levels, and represented the Italy under-21 at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He made his senior Italy debut on 6 June 2016 against Finland, and was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Early career

Born in Sanremo, Italy, Sturaro began his career with local outfit, Sanremese before being scouted and signed by Serie A side Genoa in 2008. After joining the Ligurian club, he was assigned to the club’s youth categories.

Genoa, Modena

After two seasons with the Primavera squad, Sturaro was called up to the first team, and was loaned out to Modena in the Serie B on 23 July 2012. On 1 December he made his professional debut, playing the last 33 minutes in a 1–0 home win over Novara. He returned to Genoa having made 8 league appearances during the season.

On 25 August 2013, Sturaro made his Serie A debut, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–2 away loss against Inter. He finished the season with 16 appearances and scored his maiden professional goal on 2 March 2014 in a home win against Catania.

Juventus

On 1 July 2014, Sturaro signed a five-year contract with Juventus, for a €5.5 million fee plus bonuses up to €5.5 million (€2 million for 2014–15 season which achieved; €3.5 million for 2015 onwards). The agreement also confirmed that Sturaro will spend the 2014–15 campaign on loan at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris outfit. He was recalled on 2 February of the following year.

On 5 May 2015, Sturaro made his debut in the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid. He was a contributor in Juventus’ 2–1 success at the Juventus Stadium. In this same game he made an important interception against a point blank range header from James Rodríguez, this was vital as it proved to be a match winning moment in the game. He scored his first goal for Juventus on 23 May 2015, in a 3–1 home win over Napoli, after a notable dribbling run, as Juventus celebrated winning the Serie A title for the fourth consecutive time.

On 8 August 2015 he assisted a goal in Juventus’s 2–0 win over Lazio in the 2015 Supercoppa Italiana. He scored his first goal of the 2015–16 season on 29 November, netting Juventus’s second goal in the 89th-minute of a 3–0 away win over Palermo. On 23 February 2016, Sturaro scored his first Champions League goal, the equalizing goal, in a 2–2 home draw to Bayern Munich in Juventus’s first round of 16 leg.

On 15 December 2016, Sturaro renewed his contact with Juventus until 2021.

International career

With the Italy Under-21 side, he took part at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship; he was sent off in the opening defeat 2–1 against eventual champions Sweden, and was banned for the remainder of the group stage as Italy were eliminated in the first round.

On 31 May 2016, Sturaro was selected as part of Antonio Conte’s Italy national senior side for Euro 2016. He made his senior debut on 6 June, as he came off the bench in Italy’s last friendly match before Euro 2016 against Finland in a 2–0 victory in Verona.

Style of play

A quick, hard-working, tactically versatile player, Sturaro is capable of playing anywhere in midfield, but is usually deployed as a box-to-box, central, or defensive midfielder in front of the back-line, due to his qualities as a ball-winner, as well as his solid technique, and subsequent capacity to start attacking plays after obtaining possession; he is also capable of playing as a defender, due to his physical attributes and ability in the air. Regarded as one of the most promising young footballers in the world, due to his work-rate, composure, tenacity, and ability to read the game, his playing style has drawn comparisons with compatriot and 2006 World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso. Unlike Gattuso, however, Sturaro is also known for his offensive contribution, and his ability to make attacking runs and advance into good positions, which has also led him to be compared to former Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal. Although right-footed, Sturaro is also capable of distributing and striking the ball accurately with his left foot.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club

• Serie A: 2014–15, 2015–16
• Coppa Italia : 2014–15, 2015–16
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2015