Robert Acquafresca
Encyclopedia
Robert Acquafresca is an Italian
footballer of half-Polish descent who plays for Serie A
club Bologna
as a striker.
to an Italian father and a Polish
mother residing in Alpignano
, Acquafresca entered the Torino
youth system at the age of 6. In the 2004–05 Campionato Primavera, he played 14 games and scored two goals for the granata.
; however, the FIGC, the governing body of Italian football, expelled Torino from Serie A, due to the club's financial problems, with the consequent free release of all of their players.
He was signed by Internazionale
as a youth team player, but two days later was loaned out to Treviso
in order to gain first team experience.
Internazionale
loaned him to Treviso
(also in co-ownership deal), thus partnering former Torino teammate Pinga.
He made eight Serie A appearances in 2005–06 season. As part of the co-ownership deal, Acquafresca remained in Treviso for the 2006–07 Serie B
season and scored 11 goals in 35 appearances.
In June 2007, Inter bought the remaining half of the co-ownership deal from Treviso.
transfer, which saw him move to Cagliari
on a co-ownership deal. There, he has played 36 games and scored fourteen goals.
On 25 June 2008 it was confirmed that Inter had bought Cagliari's 50% of Acquafresca, making them his sole club, however he was loaned back to Cagliari for the 2008–09 season.
On 14 July 2008 he revealed that he dreams of wearing the Inter shirt one day. He also thanked Cagliari
for letting him grow as a football player so that he one day could fulfill his Inter dream.
After missing the first game of the season against Lazio, he then played the next five games without opening his account before scoring his first goal of the season against Torino. He scored again the next match at home against Chievo
. On 2 November he scored two goals at home against Bologna
in a 5–1 win. He also scored one goal against his parent team, Inter, on 13 January 2009.
as a part of Diego Milito
and Thiago Motta
move to Internazionale
. and moved along with Leonardo Bonucci
, Francesco Bolzoni
, Riccardo Meggiorini
and Ivan Fatic
. He was valued €9.5 million at that time, signing a 5 year contract. He was immediately loaned to Atalanta as the club sold its striker Sergio Floccari
to Genoa.
In January 2010 the Italian striker has prematurely ended his loan spell at Atalanta and has returned to Genoa, as the club completed a three players three club swap, which saw Hernán Crespo
moved to Parma, and Parma's Nicola Amoruso
moved to Atalanta.
, and Acquafresca was transfer-listed by Genoa. After a loan negotiation, Acquafresca finally returned to Cagliari
on loan and took no.9 shirt from Nenê
. Cagliari also had a option to buy him after the loan.
On 22 June 2011 Cagliari announced that the club would not excised the rights to sign him outright.
, rejoining coach Pierpaolo Bisoli
, which in June the club sold its forwards Riccardo Meggiorini
back to Genoa.
on 1 June 2007. Also, Polish Football Federation, together with national coach Leo Beenhakker
, have been trying to convince him to play for Poland. Acquafresca, who speaks Polish, in an interview given to Gazeta Wyborcza
(14 March 2008) said that he would leave the decision to the near future .
On 18 March, he finally opted to refuse the Polish Football Federation offer, and instead confirming his choice to represent Italy at international level.
With national youth team, Acquafresca finished as the third in group 6 of 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification
. With under-21 team, Acquafresca finished as losing semi-finalist in 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, lost to Germany
0–1. Eventually Germany was the champion. With the Olympic team (de facto U21 team with overage player) in 2008 Summer Olympics
, Acquafresca finished as losing quarter-finalist to Belgium
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
footballer of half-Polish descent who plays for Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Bologna
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
as a striker.
Club career
Born in TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
to an Italian father and a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
mother residing in Alpignano
Alpignano
Alpignano is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 15 km west of Turin on the Dora Riparia in the Val di Susa plain.-External links:*...
, Acquafresca entered the Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
youth system at the age of 6. In the 2004–05 Campionato Primavera, he played 14 games and scored two goals for the granata.
Treviso
In summer 2005, Torino was promoted back to Serie ASerie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
; however, the FIGC, the governing body of Italian football, expelled Torino from Serie A, due to the club's financial problems, with the consequent free release of all of their players.
He was signed by Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
as a youth team player, but two days later was loaned out to Treviso
Treviso F.B.C. 1993
Football Club Treviso is an Italian football club based in Treviso. The club was formed in 1909, and refounded in 1993 and in 2009. The club currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.Treviso's official colours are light blue and white.-History:...
in order to gain first team experience.
Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
loaned him to Treviso
Treviso F.B.C. 1993
Football Club Treviso is an Italian football club based in Treviso. The club was formed in 1909, and refounded in 1993 and in 2009. The club currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.Treviso's official colours are light blue and white.-History:...
(also in co-ownership deal), thus partnering former Torino teammate Pinga.
He made eight Serie A appearances in 2005–06 season. As part of the co-ownership deal, Acquafresca remained in Treviso for the 2006–07 Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
season and scored 11 goals in 35 appearances.
In June 2007, Inter bought the remaining half of the co-ownership deal from Treviso.
Cagliari
Acquafresca was involved in the David SuazoDavid Suazo
Óscar David Suazo Velázquez is a Honduran football striker who currently plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A. He is also a member of the Honduran national team.-Early career:...
transfer, which saw him move to Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
on a co-ownership deal. There, he has played 36 games and scored fourteen goals.
On 25 June 2008 it was confirmed that Inter had bought Cagliari's 50% of Acquafresca, making them his sole club, however he was loaned back to Cagliari for the 2008–09 season.
On 14 July 2008 he revealed that he dreams of wearing the Inter shirt one day. He also thanked Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
for letting him grow as a football player so that he one day could fulfill his Inter dream.
After missing the first game of the season against Lazio, he then played the next five games without opening his account before scoring his first goal of the season against Torino. He scored again the next match at home against Chievo
A.C. ChievoVerona
Associazione Calcio Chievo Verona is a professional Italian football club named after and based in Chievo, a suburb of 2,800 inhabitants in Verona, Veneto, and owned by Paluani, a cake company and the inspiration for their original name, Paluani Chievo...
. On 2 November he scored two goals at home against Bologna
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
in a 5–1 win. He also scored one goal against his parent team, Inter, on 13 January 2009.
Genoa & Atalanta
On 29 June 2009, Acquafresca became a member of Genoa C.F.C.Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
as a part of Diego Milito
Diego Milito
Diego Alberto Milito is an Argentine footballer who plays as a striker for the Italian Serie A team Internazionale. He also plays for the Argentine national team. A prolific and consistent center-forward, Milito has statistically averaged just over a goal every two appearances, over the course of...
and Thiago Motta
Thiago Motta
Thiago Motta Santon Olivares , known as Thiago Motta, is a Brazilian-born Italian footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club Internazionale....
move to Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
. and moved along with Leonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team.-Internazionale:Bonucci started his career at Viterbese but was loaned to Internazionale in the summer of 2005. He played a number of pre-season friendlies for Inter first team...
, Francesco Bolzoni
Francesco Bolzoni
Francesco Bolzoni in Lodi is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Siena.-Club career:Bolzoni started out at San Colombano al Lambro before joining Inter's academy. Bolzoni has played for every academy team from the Esordienti to the Primavera .During the season 2006–2007, Bolzoni was...
, Riccardo Meggiorini
Riccardo Meggiorini
Riccardo Meggiorini is an Italian footballer who plays for Novara, on loan from Genoa.He is nicknamed Meggio by his teammates.-Early career:Meggiorini started his career at Bovolone, a team from his native Verona Province....
and Ivan Fatic
Ivan Fatic
Ivan Fatić is a Montenegrin football player playing for Empoli F.C. on loan from Chievo.-Biography:He was signed by Internazionale from relegated Chievo on 4 July 2007...
. He was valued €9.5 million at that time, signing a 5 year contract. He was immediately loaned to Atalanta as the club sold its striker Sergio Floccari
Sergio Floccari
Sergio Floccari is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Parma.-Early career:...
to Genoa.
In January 2010 the Italian striker has prematurely ended his loan spell at Atalanta and has returned to Genoa, as the club completed a three players three club swap, which saw Hernán Crespo
Hernán Crespo
Hernán Jorge Crespo is an Argentine footballer who plays for Parma in the Italian Serie A. Crespo has scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 18 years. His honors include an Olympic Games silver medal, a Copa Libertadores, an English Premier League title and three Scudettos. He was topscorer in...
moved to Parma, and Parma's Nicola Amoruso
Nicola Amoruso
Nicola Amoruso is a former Italian association football player who played as a striker. His nicknames were piede caldo and Dinamite.- Career :...
moved to Atalanta.
Back to Cagliari
On 1 July 2010, his no.9 shirt was given to Luca ToniLuca Toni
Luca Toni, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. He has had successful spells at top clubs such as Palermo, Fiorentina, Bayern Munich, and Roma...
, and Acquafresca was transfer-listed by Genoa. After a loan negotiation, Acquafresca finally returned to Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
on loan and took no.9 shirt from Nenê
Ânderson Miguel da Silva
Ânderson Miguel da Silva , aka Nenê, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Cagliari Calcio in Italy, as a striker.-Football career:...
. Cagliari also had a option to buy him after the loan.
On 22 June 2011 Cagliari announced that the club would not excised the rights to sign him outright.
Bologna
In July 2011 he was loaned to BolognaBologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
, rejoining coach Pierpaolo Bisoli
Pierpaolo Bisoli
Pierpaolo Bisoli is an Italian football manager and former midfielder.-Playing:Bisoli started his professional career in 1984 with Pistoiese, where he spent a total of three seasons. He then played for a handful of minor teams before to join Cagliari in 1991, becoming a mainstay for the Sardinians...
, which in June the club sold its forwards Riccardo Meggiorini
Riccardo Meggiorini
Riccardo Meggiorini is an Italian footballer who plays for Novara, on loan from Genoa.He is nicknamed Meggio by his teammates.-Early career:Meggiorini started his career at Bovolone, a team from his native Verona Province....
back to Genoa.
International career
Acquafresca has been capped for Italian U-17s, U18s, U19s, U20s and Under-21 side, making his debut in a qualifying match against AlbaniaAlbania national under-21 football team
The Albania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
on 1 June 2007. Also, Polish Football Federation, together with national coach Leo Beenhakker
Leo Beenhakker
Leo Beenhakker is an international Dutch football coach, who is the current Sports Director of Újpest FC.- Coaching career :...
, have been trying to convince him to play for Poland. Acquafresca, who speaks Polish, in an interview given to Gazeta Wyborcza
Gazeta Wyborcza
Gazeta Wyborcza is a leading Polish newspaper. It covers the gamut of political, international and general news. Like all the Polish newspapers, it is printed on compact-sized paper, and is published by the multimedia corporation Agora SA...
(14 March 2008) said that he would leave the decision to the near future .
On 18 March, he finally opted to refuse the Polish Football Federation offer, and instead confirming his choice to represent Italy at international level.
With national youth team, Acquafresca finished as the third in group 6 of 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification
2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification
UEFA U-19 Championship 2006 is the first round of qualifications for the Final Tournament of UEFA U-19 Championship 2006. Top two teams from each group and the best third-placed team will enter UEFA U-19 Championship 2006 ....
. With under-21 team, Acquafresca finished as losing semi-finalist in 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
, lost to Germany
Germany national under-21 football team
The Germany national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and is controlled by the German Football Association , the governing body of football in Germany....
0–1. Eventually Germany was the champion. With the Olympic team (de facto U21 team with overage player) in 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
The men's association football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to enter their men's U-23 teams in regional qualifying competitions, from...
, Acquafresca finished as losing quarter-finalist to Belgium
Belgium national under-21 football team
The Belgium national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
.