Lorenzo Pellegrini

Lorenzo Pellegrini (; born 19 June 1996) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club Roma and the Italy national team.

Pellegrini is an academy graduate of Roma, having joined the club in 2007, and made his senior debut in 2015. He departed for Sassuolo later that year, where he made over fifty appearances across all competitions, before returning to Roma in July 2017.

Club career Roma Born in Rome, Pellegrini, who had suffered from arrhythmia as a youngster, joined the youth academy of local side Roma at the age of nine. Having previously represented the club in the UEFA Youth League, he was handed his senior debut at the age of 18 by manager Rudi Garcia on 22 March 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute for Salih Uçan in a 1–0 Serie A victory against Cesena.

Sassuolo On 30 June 2015, Pellegrini signed for fellow Serie A side Sassuolo for a fee of €1.25 million. In terms of the transfer agreement, Roma retained a buy-back-clause which afforded the club the opportunity to re-purchase Pellegrini at a future stage. Pellegrini made his debut for the club on 8 November 2015, starting in a 1–0 league victory against Carpi, and scored his first goal the following month when he netted in a 3–0 victory against Sampdoria. He eventually made 20 appearances for the season, including one in the Coppa Italia, and scored three goals. During the 2016–17 season, Pellegrini became the youngest player to have a hand in ten goals in one Serie A campaign, having registered six goals and four assists by 10 April 2017. He made 34 appearances across all competitions for the campaign, scoring eight goals registering seven assists, before re-signing for Roma at the end of the season.

Return to Roma

On 30 June 2017, Roma exercised the buyback clause of €10 million, which was included in Pellegrini's transfer agreement with Sassuolo, to bring him back to Rome on a five-year deal. On the same day Roma youth product Federico Ricci joined Sassuolo outright, Pellegrini scored his first-ever goal for the club on 1 December 2017, netting Roma's third goal in a 3–1 league victory against SPAL.

On 25 May 2022, Pellegrini captained A.S. Roma in the inaugural Europa Conference League final, which his team won 1–0 against Feyenoord. He was also named Player of the Season in that competition. On 8 August 2026, he extended his contract with the club.

International career Having represented various Italian youth teams, Pellegrini debuted for the senior squad on 11 June 2017 in a 5–0 home victory against Liechtenstein of a 2018 World Cup qualification. Later that month, Pellegrini was included in the Italy under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Luigi Di Biagio. One 18 June, he scored his first youth goal at the tournament, netting from a bicycle kick in a 2–0 victory against Denmark. Italy was eliminated in the semi-finals after a 3–1 defeat against Spain on 27 June. During the match, Pellegrini assisted Federico Bernardeschi's temporary equaliser. Two years after his promotion in the senior team, Pellegrini was called back in the U21 squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship on home soil. Pellegrini scored his first goal with the Italy senior side on 5 September 2019, in a 3–1 away victory against Armenia in a Euro 2020 qualifier.

In June 2021, Pellegrini was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini. However, an injury ruled him out of the final tournament, and Gaetano Castrovilli was called up in his place. On 6 October, Pellegrini scored in a 2–1 home defeat against Spain in the semi-finals of the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals.

In June 2024, Pellegrini was included by manager Luciano Spalletti in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2024, and was later assigned the number ten shirt. In June 2024, Bastoni was included in Italy's final squad for UEFA Euro 2024 by manager Luciano Spalletti. On 15 June, in Italy's opening group match of the tournament against Albania, he set up Alessandro Bastoni's temporary equaliser as Italy came from behind to win the match 2–1. Italy was eliminated from the tournament in the round of 16 following a 2–0 loss against Switzerland.

Style of play Pellegrini's primary position is central midfielder, though he is capable of being deployed in any position in a three-man midfield, including as an attacking midfielder or defensive midfielder. A tall and physically strong midfielder, his attributes include stamina, ball control, movement, and the ability to make runs into the penalty area from deep positions, as well as the ability to strike at goal from distance with either foot, despite being naturally right-footed. Having played as a central defender earlier in his career, he is also capable in defensive situations, allowing him to win back possession before transitioning to carrying or distributing the ball and providing assists. This combination of attributes allows him to contribute across the pitch in a box-to-box role.

Personal life Pellegrini is married to Veronica Martinelli, with whom he has three children together.

Career statistics Club

International

Italy score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pellegrini goal UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2022–23 2022–23

Individual AS Roma Player of the Season: 2020–21 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2020–21, 2022–23 Serie A Goal of the Month: September 2021, January 2022, March 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League Player of the Season: 2021–22 Serie A Team of the Season: 2023–24