Luca Lipani

Luca Lipani

Personal information
Full name	Luca Lipani [1]
Date of birth	(2005-05-18) 18 May 2005 (age 18) [1]
Place of birth	Genoa, Italy
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sassuolo
Number	35
Youth career
2012–2023	Genoa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023	Genoa	2	(0)
2023–	Sassuolo	0	(0)
International career‡
2019	Italy U15	3	(0)
2021–2022	Italy U17	18	(2)
2022	Italy U18	1	(0)
2022–	Italy U19	18	(4)
2023–	Italy U20	5	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Italy FIFA U-20 World Cup Runner-up 2023 Argentina UEFA European Under-19 Championship Winner 2023 Malta
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:00, 3 January 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:00, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Luca Lipani (born 18 May 2005) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Sassuolo.

Club career

Born in Genoa, ^[2] Lipani joined the eponymous team's youth sector at the age of seven. ^[3] Having come through the club's youth ranks, he started playing for the under-19 squad during the 2021–22 season. ^{[2] [4]}

Since the start of 2022–23 season, the midfielder started training with the first team, under head coach Alexander Blessin, before being regularly included in senior match-day squads by new manager Alberto Gilardino. ^{[2] [4]} In December 2022, he renewed his professional contract with Genoa, with the length remaining undisclosed. ^[5]

On 25 February 2023, Lipani made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute for Milan Badelj at the 85th minute of a Serie B match against SPAL: in the same occasion, he served an assist for Eddie Salcedo, whose goal settled up the game's final score for a 3–0 win. ^{[4] [6] [7]} At the end of the campaign, he was involved in a double promotion, as Genoa's first team returned to Serie A after just one year, ^[8] while the Primavera squad gained automatic promotion back to the Campionato Primavera 1. ^{[8] [9]}

On 8 August 2023, Lipani joined fellow Serie A club Sassuolo on a permanent deal, ^{[10] [11]} for a reported fee of eight million euros, plus add-ons. ^{[3] [12]} On 2 November, he made his debut for the club, coming on for Uroš Račić in the first half of extra-time of a Coppa Italia match against Spezia, ^{[13] [14]} which ended in a 5–4 win on penalties. ^[14] On 3 January 2024, he made his first start for the Neroverdi in a 3–1 cup defeat to Atalanta. ^{[13] [15]}

International career

Lipani has represented Italy at various youth international levels, having played for the under-15, ^[16] under-17, ^{[17] [18]} under-18, under-19 ^[19] and under-20 national teams. ^[20] He also wore the captain armband for the under-17 national team. ^{[17] [18]}

In May 2022, he was included in the Italian squad that took part in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Israel: ^[21] during the tournament, he scored a goal, ^[18] as the Azzurrini were eventually eliminated by the Netherlands (2–1) in the quarter-finals. ^[18]

In December of the same year, he took part in a training camp with the staff of the Italian senior national team, under manager Roberto Mancini. ^{[2] [22]}

In May 2023, he was included by head coach Carmine Nunziata in the Italian squad that took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, ^[20] where the Azzurrini finished runners-up after losing to Uruguay in the final match. ^{[23] [24]}

In June of the same year, he was included in the Italian squad for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Malta, ^[25] where the Azzurrini eventually won their second continental title. ^{[26] [27]}

Style of play

Lipani is a right-footed holding midfielder, ^{[2] [4] [6]} who excels in winning the ball during the defensive phase, as well as creating chances for his team-mates, thanks to his technical skills. ^{[2] [4]} Despite mainly playing in a defensive role, he has also been regarded for his goal contributions, thanks to his shooting abilities. ^{[2] [4]}

He has cited Milan Badelj as a source of inspiration. ^{[2] [6]}

Career statistics

As of match played 3 January 2024 ^[28]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Coppa Italia		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Genoa	2022–23	Serie B	2	0	0	0	2	0
Sassuolo	2023–24	Serie A	0	0	2	0	2	0
Career total			2	0	2	0	4	0

Honours

Italy U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2023 ^{[23] [24]}

Italy U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2023 ^{[26] [27]}

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Italy (ITA)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 14. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
2. Moscatelli, Federico (20 December 2022). "[FOCUS] - Luca Lipani: il centrocampista che ha stregato Gila". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2023.
3. Cirronis, Francesco (8 August 2023). "Chi è Luca Lipani, l'importante acquisto del Sassuolo per il classe 2005". Numero Diez (in Italian). Retrieved 12 August 2023.
4. Dello Russo, Sofia (28 February 2023). "Luca Lipani, dalle giovanili all'esordio in Prima Squadra". La Giovane Italia News (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
5. Signorelli, Giordano (1 December 2022). "Lipani prolunga con il Genoa". Calcio Genoa (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2023.
6. Moscatelli, Federico (25 February 2023). "Genoa, esordio con assist per Luca Lipani". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2023.
7. Manfredini, Stefano (25 February 2023). "Genoa Spal 3-0: biancoazzurri affondati nel finale". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2023.
8. Gravina, Carlo (6 May 2023). "Il Genoa sconfigge l'Ascoli 2-1 e vola in serie A. La gioia dei tifosi in piazza De Ferrari". Il Secolo XIX (in Italian). Retrieved 10 May 2023.
9. Andreuccetti, Gianluca (9 May 2023). "[FOCUS] - Genoa, è di nuovo Primavera 1: la stagione perfetta dei ragazzi di Agostini". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 10 May 2023.
10. "Dal Genoa arriva in neroverde il centrocampista Luca Lipani". US Sassuolo Calcio (in Italian). 8 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
11. Donato, Lelio (8 August 2023). "Chi è Lipani, il gioiellino appena acquistato dal Sassuolo". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 12 August 2023.
12. Schiappapietra, Andrea (5 August 2023). "Genoa, si sblocca Lipani al Sassuolo". Il Secolo XIX (in Italian). Retrieved 12 August 2023.
13. Rossoni, Stefano (4 January 2023). "Coppa Italia, esordio dal 1' per Luca Lipani". La Giovane Italia News (in Italian). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
14. "Sassuolo-Spezia LIVE". Sky Sport (in Italian). 2 November 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
15. Manfredi, Jacopo (3 January 2024). "Coppa Italia: Atalanta-Sassuolo 3-1, De Ketelaere accende i nerazzurri e li porta ai quarti". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 4 January 2024.
16. "Gli Azzurrini battono la Spagna e vincono il Torneo UEFA dell'Algarve". FIGC (in Italian). 25 November 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
17. "Qualificazioni europee. Terza vittoria per l'Italia: 3-0 alla Scozia e primato in classifica. Corradi: "Volevamo vincerle tutte"". FIGC (in Italian). 2 November 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
18. "L'Olanda vince di misura. L'Italia lotta ma è fuori dagli Europei". FIGC (in Italian). 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
19. "Gol vittoria di Vignato allo scadere, Azzurrini terzi nel girone ma c'è ancora una speranza di passare il turno". FIGC (in Italian). 27 September 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
20. "Ufficializzata la lista dei 21 convocati per il Mondiale in Argentina" (in Italian). FIGC. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
21. "In Israele per l'Europeo, ecco i 20 convocati di Corradi. Tutte le partite dell'Italia in diretta sulla Rai". FIGC (in Italian). 12 May 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
22. "Stage a Coverciano dal 20 al 22 dicembre, convocati due gruppi di calciatori di interesse nazionale". FIGC (in Italian). 15 December 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
23. "Returning Rodriguez snatches Uruguay maiden title". FIFA . 11 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
24. Di Chiaro, Michael (11 June 2023). "Uruguay-Italia Under 20 1-0: Luciano Rodriguez stende gli Azzurrini, sudamericani Campioni del Mondo". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 12 June 2023.
25. "Bollini sceglie i 20 Azzurrini per l'Europeo. Domani mattina partenza per Malta". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 29 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
26. Honeyman, Sam. "Portugal 0-1 Italy: Kayode heads resilient Azzurrini to second Under-19 title". UEFA.com. UEFA. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
27. Scognamiglio, Pietro (16 July 2023). "Gli azzurrini trionfano: campioni d'Europa Under 19. Battuto il Portogallo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
28. Luca Lipani at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

External links

• Luca Lipani at Soccerway
• Luca Lipani at WorldFootball.net