Biography
Who is Manuel Locatelli?
Early life and career beginnings
Manuel Locatelli was born in Lecco, Italy, on January 8, 1998. He began his youth football path with Atalanta before moving to AC Milan at the age of eleven. He progressed through the various youth categories at Milan, moving from the Esordienti to the Primavera sides. In March 2015, he signed his first professional contract with the club.
His progression continued when he received his first senior team call-up in September 2015 under manager Siniša Mihajlović. He made his official Serie A debut in April 2016, coming on as a substitute in a match against Carpi. Later that year, he made his first start in the league against Roma at the San Siro stadium.
Rise to prominence at AC Milan
During the 2016 to 2017 season, Manuel Locatelli established himself further within the senior squad. He scored his first Serie A goal in October 2016 with a well-known shot during a match against Sassuolo. Later that month, he scored the winning goal in a match against Juventus, securing a victory with a strike that past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Following these strong performances, he extended his contract with AC Milan through June 2020. However, changes in team management and the arrival of other players eventually limited his playing time during the subsequent 2017 to 2018 season under managers Vincenzo Montella and later Gennaro Gattuso.
Transfer to Sassuolo and Juventus
In August 2018, Manuel Locatelli transferred to Sassuolo on an initial loan with an obligation to buy, seeking regular playing time. During his time with Sassuolo, he made numerous appearances and scored several goals across domestic competitions over three seasons.
In August 2021, Juventus announced the signing of Manuel Locatelli on a two-year loan with an obligation to purchase. He quickly contributed to the team, scoring goals against opponents such as Sampdoria and Torino. By the 2024 to 2025 season under coach Thiago Motta, he assumed the club captaincy and helped secure a Champions League qualification finish.
International success with Italy
Manuel Locatelli represented Italy across various youth levels, including the under-17, under-19, and under-21 teams, participating in multiple European championships. He made his senior international debut for Italy in September 2020 during a UEFA Nations League match against the Netherlands.
He was selected by manager Roberto Mancini for the squad competing in UEFA Euro 2020. During the tournament, he scored two goals in a group stage match against Switzerland. He ultimately won the European Championship with Italy in July 2021 after a penalty shoot-out victory over England in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Personal life and height
Manuel Locatelli stands at a height of 186 centimeters. Outside of his professional football career, he married Thessa Lachovic in June 2022, and his wife later announced a pregnancy in October of that same year.
Throughout his career, his playing style has drawn comparisons to well-known playmakers and deep-lying midfielders due to his passing range, tactical intelligence, and ability to dictate the tempo of a match.
Birthday and age
Manuel Locatelli was born on January 8, 1998, which makes Manuel 28 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Manuel shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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