Matteo Pessina

Matteo Pessina

Pessina in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Matteo Pessina [1]
Date of birth	(1997-04-21) 21 April 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Monza, Italy
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Monza
Number	32
Youth career
2002–2007	La Dominante
2007–2014	Monza
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2015	Monza	22	(6)
2015–2017	AC Milan	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ Lecce (loan)	3	(0)
2016	→ Catania (loan)	1	(0)
2016–2017	→ Como (loan)	36	(9)
2017–2023	Atalanta	67	(3)
2017–2018	→ Spezia (loan)	38	(2)
2019–2020	→ Hellas Verona (loan)	35	(7)
2022–2023	→ Monza (loan)	35	(5)
2023–	Monza	43	(6)
International career‡
2015–2016	Italy U19	4	(0)
2016–2017	Italy U20	12	(1)
2017–2018	Italy U21	7	(0)
2020–	Italy	16	(5)
Medal record Representing   Italy UEFA European Championship Winner 2020 Europe CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions Runner-up 2022 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:52, 29 September 2024 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2023

Matteo Pessina Cavaliere OMRI (born 21 April 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Monza, whom he captains, and the Italy national team.

Coming through the youth system, Pessina started his career at Monza. He joined AC Milan in 2015, who sent him on loan to Lecce, Catania and Como. In 2017, he moved to Atalanta, and was loaned out twice to Spezia and then Hellas Verona. Pessina became a starter for Atalanta upon his return from loan in 2020. He returned to his hometown club Monza in 2022 and was made club captain.

Pessina represented Italy internationally at under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, before making his senior debut in 2020. He was part of Italy's squad at UEFA Euro 2020, where he scored two goals to help his side win the competition.

Club career

Monza

Born in Monza, Italy, Pessina began his youth career at local club La Dominante aged five. ^[3] In 2007, ^[4] aged 10, Pessina joined Monza's youth sector. ^{[5] [6]} He made his senior debut for Monza on 2 October 2013, in a Coppa Italia Lega Pro game against AlbinoLeffe. ^[7]

Pessina was made a permanent member of the first team in the 2014–15 season; ^[8] he made his league debut on 6 January 2015, in which he also scored a goal, against Pro Patria. ^[9] Pessina finished the season with three goals in 20 appearances in the regular season of the Lega Pro, as well as three goals in two games in the relegation play-outs, won against Pordenone. ^[10]

AC Milan

Despite avoiding relegation, Monza was forced to restart from the Serie D due to a bankruptcy: Pessina became a free agent, and was signed by AC Milan on 30 June 2015. ^[11]

Loans to Lecce, Catania and Como

Pessina was promptly sent on loan to Lecce in the Lega Pro in August 2015. ^[12] During the 2015–16 season, Pessina was used infrequently: he only made one appearance in the Coppa Italia Lega Pro and three in the league. ^[10]

In January 2016, the loan was interrupted and Pessina was loaned out to Catania. ^[13] Even in his second loan spell, he was used infrequently, playing only one league game in the second half of the season. ^[10]

In summer 2016, Pessina was loaned out to Como. ^[14] He played as a starter in the 2016–17 season, making two appearances in the Coppa Italia, three in the Coppa Italia Lega Pro, 35 in the league (scoring nine goals) and one in the promotion play-offs. ^[10]

Atalanta

On 7 July 2017, Pessina signed a contract with Atalanta, ^[15] as part of a swap deal involving Andrea Conti moving the other way. ^[16]

Loan to Spezia

On 25 August 2017, Pessina was signed on loan by Serie B side Spezia. ^{[17] [18]} He scored his first Serie B goal against Salernitana on 23 February 2018. ^[19] Due to his performances, having scored two goals in 38 appearances, Pessina was nominated Best Young Player of the Serie B at the Serie B Gran Galà Top 11. ^[20]

Return to Atalanta

In summer 2018, Pessina returned to Atalanta. ^[21] He made his debut on 26 July, playing the first leg of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League as a starter, in a 2–2 home draw against Sarajevo; it was also his debut in UEFA club competition. ^[22] He made his Serie A debut on 20 August 2018, aged 21, replacing Mario Pašalić in the second half of the first matchday, a 4–0 home win against Frosinone. ^[23] He made 19 appearances in all competitions, including five in the preliminary rounds of the Europa League and two in the Coppa Italia. ^[10]

Loan to Hellas Verona

In August 2019, Pessina joined newly-promoted Serie A side Hellas Verona on loan with an option to buy. ^[24] On his debut, six days later, he scored his first Serie A goal in a 1–0 win against Lecce in the second matchday. ^[25] Pessina ended the 2019–20 season with seven goals in 35 league appearances. ^[10]

Starter at Atalanta

After returning from loan in summer 2020, Pessina made his UEFA Champions League debut with Atalanta on 21 October, in a 4–0 win against Midtjylland. ^[26] Starting from November, Pessina started finding more space in Atalanta's starting lineup; ^[27] on 3 January 2021, he scored his first goal with Atalanta, in a 5–1 home win over Sassuolo. ^[28] In the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, he scored a brace in a 3–1 win against Napoli, which allowed Atalanta to progress to the final. ^[29]

On 29 September 2021, he scored the sole goal in a win against Young Boys on the second matchday of the Champions League group stage: ^[30] it was his first goal in a UEFA competition. ^[31]

Monza

On 6 July 2022, Pessina returned to his former club Monza, who had been promoted to the Serie A for the first time in their history; he joined on a one-year loan, with an option and conditional obligation for purchase, and was made club captain. ^[5] He made his debut on 26 August, as a substitute in a 2–1 home defeat to Udinese. ^[32] On 2 October, Pessina scored his first Serie A goal for Monza in a 3–0 away win to Sampdoria. ^[33]

International career

Youth

Pessina was a member of the Italy U20 side that finished in third place at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. ^[34] He made his debut with the U21 team on 5 October 2017, in a 6–2 friendly win against Hungary in Budapest. ^[35]

Senior

Pessina was called up to the Italy senior squad by manager Roberto Mancini in November 2020, ^[36] and made his senior debut for Italy on 11 November, featuring as a substitute in a 4–0 friendly win against Estonia in Florence. ^{[37] [38]} 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. ^[39]

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. ^[40] However, following an injury to Stefano Sensi, Pessina was called up to the tournament in his place. ^[41]

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. ^[42] 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. ^[43] 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. ^[44] 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. ^[45]

On 20 November 2022, Pessina came on as a substitute in a 2–0 friendly defeat to Austria, becoming Monza's first-ever player to play for the Italy national team. ^{[46] [47]} He became the inaugural Biancorosso to score for the national side, netting Italy's second goal in a 2-0 win over Malta in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier on March 26, 2023. ^[48]

Style of play

Primarily an offensive-minded central midfielder, known as the mezzala role in Italian football jargon, Pessina is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or even as a winger. A left-footed player, ^[7] 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. ^{[49] [50] [51]} 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. ^[52]

Personal life

Pessina studied economics at the LUISS Business School in Rome, Italy. ^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 September 2024 ^[10]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Coppa Italia		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Monza	2013–14	Lega Pro 2D	0	0	—		—		3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	3	0
	2014–15	Lega Pro	20	3	0	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 2]	3	23	6
	Total		20	3	0	0	0	0	6	3	26	6
AC Milan	2015–16	Serie A	—		—		—		—		0	0
	2016–17	Serie A	—		—		—		—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lecce (loan)	2015–16	Lega Pro	3	0	—		—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	4	0
Catania (loan)	2015–16	Lega Pro	1	0	2	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	6	0
Como (loan)	2016–17	Lega Pro	35	9	2	0	—		4 [lower-alpha 3]	0	41	9
Atalanta	2017–18	Serie A	—		—		—		—		0	0
	2018–19	Serie A	12	0	2	0	5 [lower-alpha 4]	0	—		19	0
	2019–20	Serie A	—		—		—		—		0	0
	2020–21	Serie A	28	2	5	2	7 [lower-alpha 5]	0	—		40	4
	2021–22	Serie A	27	1	2	0	8 [lower-alpha 6]	1	—		37	2
	Total		67	3	9	2	20	1	0	0	96	6
Spezia (loan)	2017–18	Serie B	38	2	—		—		—		38	2
Hellas Verona (loan)	2019–20	Serie A	35	7	—		—		—		35	7
Monza (loan)	2022–23	Serie A	35	5	1	0	—		—		36	5
Monza	2023–24	Serie A	37	6	1	0	—		—		38	6
	2024–25	Serie A	5	0	2	1	—		—		7	1
	Total		77	11	4	1	0	0	0	0	81	12
Career total			276	35	17	3	20	1	14	3	327	42

1. Appearances in Coppa Italia Lega Pro
2. One appearance in Coppa Italia Lega Pro, two appearances and three goals in Lega Pro relegation play-outs
3. Appearances in Lega Pro promotion play-offs
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League qualifying stages
5. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
6. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 26 March 2023 ^[10]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Italy	2020	1	0
	2021	10	4
	2022	4	0
	2023	1	1
Total		16	5

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pessina goal.

List of international goals scored by Matteo Pessina

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 May 2021	Sardegna Arena, Cagliari, Italy	5	San Marino	5–0	7–0	Friendly
2					7–0
3	20 June 2021	Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy	7	Wales	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2020
4	26 June 2021	Wembley Stadium, London, England	8	Austria	2–0	2–1 ( a.e.t. )	UEFA Euro 2020
5	26 March 2023	National Stadium, Attard, Malta	16	Malta	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Honours

Italy U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup third place: 2017 ^[34]

Italy

• UEFA European Championship: 2020 ^[45]

Orders

• 

  5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana : 2021 ^[53]

References

1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 265" [Official Statement No. 265](PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 16 July 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
2. "Matteo Pessina" (in Italian). AC Monza. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
3. "Calcio monza: Pessina ha firmato, è il nuovo capitano. Galliani "Adesso l'obiettivo è il 10° posto"". MBNews. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
4. La Gazzetta dello Sport [@gazzettadellosport] (7 July 2022). "2007–2022: l'inizio, l'arrivederci e il ritorno a casa di Matteo Pessina" – via Instagram.
5. "Bentornato Matteo Pessina - Associazione Calcio Monza S.p.A." www.acmonza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 6 July 2022.
6. CRIPPA, DARIO (6 June 2021). "Matteo, gli anni del Monza, la Nazionale Papà Pessina racconta l'ascesa del figlio - Cronaca". Il Giorno (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
7. Belotti, Marina (17 August 2021). "Nerazzurri. Otto cose che non sapete di Matteo Pessina". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 7 July 2022.
8. "Pessina si presenta: "Al Milan perché c'è un progetto migliore dell'Inter. Pronto per giocarmi le mie carte"" (in Italian). www.spaziomilan.it. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
9. "Monza-Pro Patria 2-2. I calciatori "fanno le valigie" (oltre a comprarsi il cibo!)". MBNews. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
10. Matteo Pessina at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
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12. "UFFICIALE: Pessina in prestito al Lecce". Milan News (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
13. "Il centrocampista Matteo Pessina dal Milan al Catania, a titolo temporaneo". calciocatania.it (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
14. "Al Como la mezzala Matteo Pessina" [Midfielder Matteo Pessina to Como]. calciocomo1907.it. Calcio Como. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
15. "Ecco Matteo Pessina" (in Italian). Atalanta B.C. 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
16. "Atalanta, dal Milan è arrivato Pessina. Castagne prelevato dai belgi del Genk". La Gazzetta dello Sport - Tutto il rosa della vita (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
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18. "Mercato: Matteo Pessina nuovo centrocampista aquilotto" (in Italian). Spezia Calcio. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
19. "Serie B Spezia-Salernitana 3-0. È giallo sul primo gol di Pessina". corrieredellosport.it (in Italian). 23 February 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
20. "#ExMonza - Un centrocampista nato a Monzello miglior giovane della Serie B - Monza News". 19 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
21. Redazione (28 November 2018). "Gasp ha un jolly: è il momento di Matteo Pessina". Calcio Atalanta (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
22. https://www.pressreader.com/italy/corriere-della-sera-bergamo/20180728/281719795384348 . Retrieved 5 July 2022– via PressReader.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
23. Redazione (21 August 2018). "Esordio in Serie A per Pessina, il centrocampista del futuro". Calcio Atalanta (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
24. "UFFICIALE: Hellas Verona, dall'Atalanta arriva Pessina" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
25. "Pessina beffa Liverani: il Verona vince a Lecce 1-0". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
26. "Debutto in Champions: bentornato Pessina!". Atalanta (in Italian). 22 October 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
27. Dall'Agnol, Sandro (3 December 2020). "La scalata di Pessina: così prova a prendersi l'Atalanta". Calcio News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
28. "Atalanta-Sassuolo 5-1: doppietta di Zapata, gol di Pessina, Gosens, Muriel e Chiriches". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 3 January 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
29. "Atalanta defeat Napoli, will face Juventus in Coppa Italia final". DAZN. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
30. "UCL Atalanta-BSC Young Boys 1-0". Atalanta (in Italian). 29 September 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
31. "UCL un gol storico per Matteo Pessina". Atalanta (in Italian). 30 September 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
32. "Il Monza perde in casa con l'Udinese, è già crisi?". MBNews (in Italian). Retrieved 27 August 2022.
33. "Pessina si sblocca e il Monza vince ancora: buio pesto Sampdoria". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 2 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
34. "News - Verso il Mondiale. Ufficializzati i nomi dei 21 Azzurrini, domenica sera raduno a Roma" (in Italian). Figc. 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
35. "Hungary U21 - Italy U21 results 05.10.2017 - Foot Live". footlive.com. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
36. "Mancini convoca anche Bastoni, Ferrari e Zaccagni. Alle 16 primo allenamento" (in Italian). www.figc.it. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
37. "A Grifo brace and goals from Bernardeschi and Orsolini secure a comfortable win against Estonia". www.figc.it. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
38. "New look Italy secure routine win over Estonia". Forza Italian Football. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
39. "ITALY 7-0 SAN MARINO: PESSINA AND POLITANO WITH TWO EACH". Football Italia. 28 May 2021.
40. "Mancini names uncapped striker Raspadori in final Italy Euro 2020 squad". Reuters. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
41. Bettoni, Lorenzo (3 June 2021). "Italy: Injured Sensi out of Euro 2020". Football Italia. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
42. "Italy 3–0 Switzerland". BBC Sport. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
43. Pritchard, Dafydd (20 June 2021). "Wales in last 16 despite defeat in Rome". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
44. "Italy need extra time to beat Austria". BBC Sport. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
45. McNulty, Phil (11 July 2021). "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
46. "Pessina: "Che ricordi il gol all'Austria e la vittoria dell'Europeo. Orgoglioso per il Monza"". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 19 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
47. "Matteo Pessina in campo con l'Italia: è il primo calciatore del Monza - Associazione Calcio Monza S.p.A." www.acmonza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 21 November 2022.
48. Campanale, Susy (26 March 2023). "Pessina 'didn't know' he made Italy history with Monza". Football Italia. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
49. Pucciarelli, Giuseppe (9 August 2018). "Fantacalcio Serie A 2018/19: alla scoperta di... Pessina" (in Italian). MondoSportivo. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
50. "La partita in cui Matteo Pessina si è preso la scena" (in Italian). L'Ultimo Uomo. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
51. Pasotto, Marco (20 June 2021). "Pessina: "Una partita perfetta, non dormirò per qualche settimana"". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 11 June 2022.
52. "Matteo Pessina: The Chelsea-supporting, ballet-loving student helping Atalanta get over Papu Gomez | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
53. "Mattarella ha conferito onorificenze motu proprio ai giocatori e allo staff della Nazionale vincitrice del campionato europeo" (in Italian). quirinale.it. 16 July 2021.

External links

• Matteo Pessina FIGC Italy U19 profile (in Italian)
• Matteo Pessina FIGC Italy U20 profile (in Italian)
• Matteo Pessina FIGC Italy U21 profile (in Italian)
• Matteo Pessina FIGC Italy profile (in Italian)
• Matteo Pessina at National-Football-Teams.com