Matteo Pessina

Matteo Pessina (born 21 April 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains club Monza.

Coming through the youth system, Pessina started his career at Monza. He joined AC Milan in 2015, who sent him on loan to Lecce, Catania and Como. In 2017, he moved to Atalanta and was loaned out twice to Spezia and then Hellas Verona. Pessina became a starter for Atalanta upon his return from loan in 2020. He returned to his hometown club Monza in 2022 and was made club captain.

Pessina represented Italy internationally at under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, before making his senior debut in 2020. He was part of Italy's squad at UEFA Euro 2020, where he scored two goals to help his side win the competition.

Club career

Monza Born in Monza, Italy, Pessina began his youth career at local club La Dominante aged five. In 2007, aged 10, Pessina joined Monza's youth sector. He made his senior debut for Monza on 2 October 2013, in a Coppa Italia Lega Pro game against AlbinoLeffe.

Pessina was made a permanent member of the first team in the 2014–15 season; he made his league debut on 6 January 2015, in which he also scored a goal, against Pro Patria. Pessina finished the season with three goals in 20 appearances in the regular season of the Lega Pro, as well as three goals in two games in the relegation play-outs, won against Pordenone.

Loans to Lecce, Catania and Como Pessina was promptly sent on loan to Lecce in the Lega Pro in August 2015. During the 2015–16 season, Pessina was used infrequently: he only made one appearance in the Coppa Italia Lega Pro and three in the league. Even in his second loan spell, he was used infrequently, playing only one league game in the second half of the season. He played as a starter in the 2016–17 season, making two appearances in the Coppa Italia, three in the Coppa Italia Lega Pro, 35 in the league (scoring nine goals) and one in the promotion play-offs. as part of a swap deal involving Andrea Conti moving the other way.

Loan to Spezia On 25 August 2017, Pessina was signed on loan by Serie B side Spezia. He scored his first Serie B goal against Salernitana on 23 February 2018. Due to his performances, having scored two goals in 38 appearances, Pessina was nominated Best Young Player of the Serie B at the Serie B Gran Galà Top 11.

Return to Atalanta In summer 2018, Pessina returned to Atalanta. He made his debut on 26 July, playing the first leg of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League as a starter, in a 2–2 home draw against Sarajevo; it was also his debut in UEFA club competition.

He made his Serie A debut on 20 August 2018, aged 21, replacing Mario Pašalić in the second half of the first matchday, a 4–0 home win against Frosinone. He made 19 appearances in all competitions, including five in the preliminary rounds of the Europa League and two in the Coppa Italia. On his debut, six days later, he scored his first Serie A goal in a 1–0 win against Lecce in the second matchday. Pessina ended the 2019–20 season with seven goals in 35 league appearances. Starting from November, Pessina started finding more space in Atalanta's starting lineup; on 3 January 2021, he scored his first goal with Atalanta, in a 5–1 home win over Sassuolo. In the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, he scored a brace in a 3–1 win against Napoli, which allowed Atalanta to progress to the final. On 29 September 2021, he scored the sole goal in a win against Young Boys on the second matchday of the Champions League group stage: it was his first goal in a UEFA competition.

Monza On 6 July 2022, Pessina returned to his former club Monza, who had been promoted to the Serie A for the first time in their history; he joined on a one-year loan, with an option and conditional obligation for purchase, and was made club captain. On 2 October, Pessina scored his first Serie A goal for Monza in a 3–0 away win to Sampdoria.

International career

Youth Pessina was a member of the Italy U20 side that finished in third place at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his debut with the U21 team on 5 October 2017, in a 6–2 friendly win against Hungary in Budapest.

Senior Pessina was called up to the Italy senior squad by manager Roberto Mancini in November 2020, and made his senior debut for Italy on 11 November, featuring as a substitute in a 4–0 friendly win against Estonia in Florence. On 28 May 2021, Pessina scored his first goal for Italy in the 75th minute of a 7–0 home win in a friendly against San Marino; he scored a second goal in the 87th minute.

In June 2021, Pessina was included in Italy's preliminary squad for UEFA Euro 2020 to replace an injured Stefano Sensi. He made his first appearance in the tournament as a late substitute in Italy's group match against Switzerland on 16 June, a 3–0 win for Italy. He then started in the match against Wales on 20 June, scoring the only goal of the match in the team's 1–0 victory in Rome; the result allowed them to top their group. On 26 June, after coming off the bench for Nicolò Barella, Pessina scored the match-winning goal in a 2–1 extra-time win over Austria in the round of 16. Italy went on to win the title following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final after 120 minutes of play had ended in a 1–1 draw.

On 20 November 2022, Pessina came on as a substitute in a 2–0 friendly defeat to Austria, becoming Monza's first-ever national team player. He became the inaugural Biancorosso to score for the national side, netting Italy's second goal in a 2-0 win over Malta in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier on March 26, 2023.

Style of play Primarily an offensive-minded central midfielder, known as the mezzala role in Italian football jargon, Pessina is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or even as a winger. A left-footed player, In his position, he has been likened to midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard for his surging runs and eye for goal. He has cited both English midfielders among his idols growing up.

Personal life Pessina studied economics at the LUISS Business School in Rome, Italy.

International