Biography
Who is Daniele Rugani?
Early life and career beginnings
Daniele Rugani was born in the Italian city of Lucca. He began his path in the sport with the youth academy of Empoli in the year 2000. He spent twelve full seasons developing his skills within that specific system before moving to a larger stage.
In August 2012, he transferred to the Serie A club Juventus on a loan deal. While with the club, he played for their Primavera youth squad. He became a regular starter during the 2012 to 2013 season and helped the team secure a victory in the Coppa Italia Primavera.
Rise to prominence at Empoli
After his time with the youth setup, Juventus bought a share of his registration rights in 2013 and loaned him back to Empoli. During that campaign, he acted as the team's primary defender. He played 40 games and scored two goals throughout the season.
His efforts on the field helped Empoli achieve promotion to Serie A. His performance was recognized when he was named the Serie B Footballer of the Year for 2014. He continued to play for Empoli on loan during the 2014 to 2015 season, where he appeared in all 38 league matches without receiving a single substitution or booking.
Success with Juventus
Daniele officially returned to Juventus in the summer of 2015. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League against Sevilla that September. His first start for the club occurred in December during a Coppa Italia match against Torino. He quickly integrated into the main squad and earned a spot in the 2015 Serie A Team of the Year.
During his time in Turin, he contributed to five consecutive Serie A titles. He also helped the team win two Coppa Italia trophies and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. Over the years, he extended his contract multiple times, remaining a fixture in the defense. He reached his 100th appearance for the club in July 2020 against Cagliari.
International play and loan spells
Daniele Rugani has represented Italy at various age levels, starting with the under-17 squad. He made his debut for the senior Italy national team in 2016 under coach Gian Piero Ventura during a friendly against France. He also participated in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2015 and 2017.
Throughout his career, he has spent time away from Juventus on several loan deals. He played for Rennes in France during the 2020 season. He also had loan stints with Cagliari and Fiorentina. In August 2024, he joined the Dutch club Ajax on a season-long loan, where he appeared in 26 matches across various competitions before returning to his parent club.
Style and personal life
Known for his height and physical strength, Daniele is a center-back who focuses on positioning and intelligence. He is effective in the air and capable of moving the ball forward from the back line. Experts often highlight his ability to anticipate opponent moves rather than relying on pure speed.
Outside of the sport, he has been in a relationship with journalist Michela Persico since 2015. The couple welcomed a son in September 2020. In March 2020, he made headlines as the first Serie A player to test positive for COVID-19 during the global pandemic.
Birthday and age
Daniele Rugani was born on July 29, 1994, which makes Daniele 32 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Daniele shares the date with 53 other famous people.
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