Francesco Acerbi

Francesco Acerbi (; born 10 February 1988) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for the Italy national team.

Acerbi began his senior playing career with fifth-tier Pavia in 2006 before signing with Serie B side Reggina in 2010: a year later, Acerbi joined Serie A club Chievo, following a co-ownership transfer agreement involving Genoa, for €2 million. After a brief period with AC Milan in 2012, Acerbi returned to Chievo on loan in 2013, following another co-ownership transfer agreement also involving Genoa. He then permanently signed for newly-promoted Serie A club Sassuolo but was ruled out of his debut season after being treated for testicular cancer: he returned to playing in 2014.

In 2018, Acerbi transferred to Lazio, where he won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. In 2022, he joined Inter Milan, and has gone on to win one Serie A title, another Coppa Italia, two Supercoppas Italiana, and reached the 2023 and 2025 UEFA Champions League final.

Acerbi played for the Italian national team on three occasions in friendly games before making his competitive debut in 2019. He has gone on to win UEFA Euro 2020.

Club career Pavia Born in Vizzolo Predabissi, Lombardy, Acerbi started his career at Lombard team Pavia, making his league debut on 23 April 2006. He was then loaned to Serie D team Renate on 11 January 2007 and played a club friendly on the same day. He made his official debut on 28 January in a 0–0 draw with Palazzolo. He returned to Pavia on 30 January and played in the last round of 2006–07 Serie C2.

On 2 August, Acerbi was loaned to Triestina then to Spezia on 16 August, though he only played for the latter's primavera under-20 team. He returned to Pavia on 1 July and became a regular in the first-team. He played both legs of 2009–10 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione promotion playoffs and finished as losing semi-finalists. The team was promoted after some teams were expelled from the league due to financial problems.

Reggina Acerbi received a call-up to the pre-season camp of Serie B team Reggina on 13 July and the co-ownership deal completed on 16 July. On 31 January 2011, Pavia sold the remain 50 percent registration rights to Reggina for an undisclosed fee, whereupon the Calabrian side formed another co-ownership deal with Serie A team Genoa for €1 million. Acerbi only missed two games in 2010–11 Serie B and played both legs of promotion playoffs, losing to eventual playoff winners Novara in the semi-final. He played once during the 2010–11 Coppa Italia, a match he was ultimately sent off in. He was suspended in the next cup match and was not included in the third round.

Chievo On 24 June 2011, Genoa purchased the remaining 50 percent of Acerbi's registration rights from Reggina for €2.2 million Acerbi entered the starting XI in the second half of the season making 14 starts, partnering with Marco Andreolli in nine games, Dario Dainelli three games and Boštjan Cesar two games.

Milan Acerbi next to Real Madrid's Pepe during Milan's match against Real Madrid in 2012.

On 20 June 2012, Milan bought Chievo's 50 percent share of Acerbi, with Genoa retaining the remaining half of his registration rights. Co-currently, Milan signed Kévin Constant in temporary loan deal from Genoa. In July 2012, Isaac Cofie joined Chievo from Genoa as part of financial compensation. Genoa revealed in the financial report of 2012 calendar year that Genoa repurchased 50 percent of the registration rights to Acerbi for €3.75 million and subsequently sold them to Milan for €4 million, whilst Cofie cost Chievo €1.5 million. The deals effectively made Genoa a profit of €250,000, whilst Chievo received new compensation for Constant's price tag.

Acerbi debuted for Milan in its 3–1 win over Bologna, though he failed to gain a stable place in starting line-up and left the club during the winter transfer window.

In 2019, Acerbi revealed that during his time in Milan he suffered from depression, grieving the death of his father, and often relied on alcohol to quell his emotional pain.

Genoa and Chievo On 26 January 2013, Milan purchased 50 percent of the rights of Kévin Constant for €4 million. Acerbi, as a part of the deal, moved to Genoa also for €4 million, He made seven appearances in the second half of 2012–13 Serie A.

Sassuolo On 9 July 2013, Sassuolo, recently promoted to the Serie A, purchased half of Acerbi's playing rights for a €1.8 million fee. During a pre-season medical, unusual blood tests revealed a testicular tumour, having surgery to remove the tumour. Soon after having the tumour removed, he resumed training with his new teammates. Acerbi had taken part in 13 games of the 2013–14 Serie A season before he failed a doping test in December 2013; he denied using any banned performance-enhancing drugs, and that it was due to irregular hormone levels caused by the return of the cancer. Despite this, his return to the pitch was postponed until the next season.

In June 2014, the co-ownership deal was renewed by Sassuolo.

On 30 January 2015, Sassuolo purchased Acerbi outright for an additional €1.8 million fee. On the same day Genoa acquired Lorenzo Ariaudo and Leonardo Pavoletti from Sassuolo on temporary deals for free.

Lazio

On 11 July 2018, Acerbi joined Lazio on a five-year contract. He was set to catch up to the record of 162 consecutive Serie A appearances by an outfield player, held by Javier Zanetti. However, Acerbi's own personal record was stopped at 149 games due to a two-yellow-card suspension on 20 January 2019. His personal run started on 18 October 2015, when he was still a Sassuolo player.

Inter Milan

On 1 September 2022, Acerbi moved on loan to Inter Milan. At Inter, he replaced outgoing Andrea Ranocchia and reunited with his former Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi. Initially regarded as rather a substitute, Acerbi once again became a regular starter as the season progressed.

Acerbi was a starter in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final where he was praised for shutting down Manchester City's Erling Haaland from scoring, although Inter ultimately lost 1–0.

On 7 July 2023, Inter exercised his buy option clause and signed Acerbi permanently. On 22 April 2024, he scored a header in a 2–1 win over his former club AC Milan, securing his first Serie A title with Inter in the 2023–24 season with five matches remaining.

On 6 May 2025, Acerbi scored his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal, a 93rd-minute equalizer with his weak foot against Barcelona in the second leg of the semifinals, to level the aggregate score at 6–6 in an eventual victory in extra-time, securing qualification for their second final in three years. In doing so at the age of 37 years and 85 days, he became the second oldest goalscorer in a UCL semifinal, only behind Ryan Giggs in 2011 (37 years and 148 days). He departed the club following the conclusion of the 2025–26 season after winning the domestic double.

International career

Acerbi has been capped once for the Italy under-20 Lega Pro representative team at the first match of 2008–09 Mirop Cup, losing to Hungary.

On 10 August 2012, Acerbi received his first senior team call-up from Cesare Prandelli. He made his senior debut for Italy under Antonio Conte, on 18 November 2014, in a 1–0 friendly win over Albania in Genoa, playing the full 90 minutes.

He played his first competitive match for Italy under Roberto Mancini, on 8 September 2019, in a 2–1 away win over Finland in a Euro 2020 qualifier. His first senior goal for Italy came on 15 November, in a 3–0 away win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a Euro 2020 qualifier.

In June 2021, Acerbi was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020. In Italy's second group match against Switzerland in Rome on 16 June, Acerbi made his first appearance of the tournament, coming on for the injured Giorgio Chiellini in the first half of an eventual 3–0 victory, which allowed his side to advance to the knock-out stages. On 26 June, he started and assisted the match-winning goal, scored by Matteo Pessina, in extra-time of a 2–1 win over Austria in the round of 16. On 11 July, Acerbi 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.

On 23 May 2024, he was named in the 30-man preliminary squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. However, he sustained a groin injury which would force him to miss the tournament.

Style of play Acerbi plays as a left-footed centre-back in either a three or four-man defensive line. He operates as a defender in Serie A and for the Italy national team, playing on the left side of central defense and moving the ball forward from the back-line. As a central defender, his height and attributes involve him in physical and aerial duels, both defensively and during offensive set-pieces.

Personal life Since 2020 he has been linked to Claudia Scarpari, with whom he has two daughters, Vittoria (born in 2021) and Nala (born in 2023). The couple married in early 2025 in Cassina Rizzardi.

Career statistics

Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

2005–06

2006–07

2008–09

2009–10

Renate (loan) 2006–07 Serie D

Reggina 2010–11 Serie B

Chievo 2011–12 Serie A

Milan 2012–13 Serie A

Chievo (loan) 2012–13 Serie A

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

2017–18

2018–19

2020–21

2025–26

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Acerbi goal. 2025–26 Coppa Italia: 2022–23, 2025–26 Supercoppa Italiana: 2022, 2023 UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2022–23, 2024–25

Italy UEFA European Championship: 2020 2022–23

Individual Pallone d'Argento: 2014–15

Orders