Roberto Soriano (Italian pronunciation: [roˈbɛrto soˈrjaːno]; born 8 February 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie B club Salernitana. Born in Germany, he plays for the Italy national team.

Roberto Soriano
Soriano with Italy in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-08) 8 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Darmstadt, Germany
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Salernitana
Number 21
Youth career
2006–2009 Bayern Munich
2009–2010 Sampdoria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2016 Sampdoria 136 (18)
2010–2011Empoli (loan) 27 (2)
2016–2019 Villarreal 55 (9)
2018–2019Torino (loan) 11 (0)
2019Bologna (loan) 17 (2)
2019–2023 Bologna 128 (15)
2024– Salernitana 0 (0)
International career
2007–2008 Italy U17 7 (1)
2009 Italy U18 4 (0)
2008–2010 Italy U19 11 (0)
2009–2011 Italy U21 15 (2)
2014–2020 Italy 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:30, 16 June 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 November 2020

Club career

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Early career

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Soriano was born in the German city of Darmstadt to a family from Sperone, Province of Avellino, Italy.[2][3] He started his career with Bayern Munich after being spotted by their scouts in the 2007 Champions Youth Cup while playing for Die Roten.

Sampdoria

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On 2 February 2009, Soriano moved to Italian club Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee.[4][5] Soriano immediately entered Sampdoria's Primavera, or youth team, for the 2009 Torneo di Viareggio,[6] where the Genoa based club finished as runners-up.[7] In the 2009–10 season, Sampdoria were eliminated in the semi-finals at the Campionato Nazionale Primavera, in which Soriano played.[8]

Empoli

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In June 2010, he was loaned to Serie B side Empoli. Soriano made his club debut on 15 August 2010 in a friendly against Reggiana. Soriano was substituted by Gianluca Musacci during the second half. Empoli went on to win that match 4–1. He made his Serie B debut in Empoli's first Serie B match of the season as a defensive/holding midfielder along with Davide Moro. He was substituted for Mirko Valdifiori in the 66th minute. Empoli drew that game 1–1 against Frosinone. However, Empoli would win the away match 3–2.[9] Soriano started from the bench in the next match, losing his starting spot to Gianluca Musacci. He returned to the starting XI in Empoli's 5th Serie B game of the season, and played as a central/defensive midfielder, a position he would be utilized in during the next 2 rounds (4–4–2 formation and 4–3–1–2 formation). On 11 December, he scored his first Serie B goal in the game against Portogruaro.

On 31 August 2015, Soriano signed a contract with Napoli worth €13.5m with Juan Camilo Zúñiga set to join Sampdoria as part of the deal, but the transfer fell through because Napoli did not deposit the contract with Lega Serie A before the 23:00 deadline. It is believed the delay was mainly due to disputes about image rights.[10]

Villarreal

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On 2 August 2016, Spanish club Villarreal CF and Sampdoria reached an agreement for the transfer of Soriano. He signed a five-year contract, for a reported fee of €14 million.[11] Soriano made his club debut in a 1–1 away draw against Granada in La Liga, on 20 August.[12]

Torino (loan)

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On 17 August 2018, he joined Torino on loan with an option to buy.[13]

Bologna (loan)

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On 4 January 2019, he joined Bologna on loan with an option to buy.[14]

Salernitana

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After not playing in the 2023–24 season because of an injury, on 20 August 2024 Soriano signed a one-season contract with Salernitana.[15]

International career

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Youth team

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Soriano played all three matches in the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship elite round. He also received a call-up to the 2008 Minsk under-17 International Tournament.[16] He scored a goal in the third place match.[17] Soriano was to receive a call-up from the Italian under-19 side for the game against Romania in December 2008.[18][19] He was included in Italy's starting line-up for this match. The game finished 3–1 to Italy. Soriano received a call-up to all upcoming U18/19 matches,[20] played in the friendly against Norway in March, was an unused substitute against Ukraine (born 1990 class) in April[21][22] and also appeared in an U18 international tournament in Slovakia.[23] In August 2009, he was promoted to the U21 team aged 18+12, for the match against Wales.[24] Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi called-up 6 new players in for that match, only Mattia Perin (born in November 1992) and Lorenzo Crisetig (born in January 1993) were younger than Soriano.[25] He made his debut in the first match of U21 qualification, a 1–2 loss to Wales on 4 September 2009.[26] Soriano was also involved in two of Italy's qualification matches in September and October. On 17 November, he opened the scoring for Italy in a 0–4 victory away against Luxembourg.[27] In January 2010, Soriano returned to the U19 team[28] and played in the elite qualification round and in the final of the tournament. On 3 September 2010, he returned to the U21 team and scored the winning goal for Azzurrini in the second last qualifying match.[29][30] Italy must win the last 2 matches and depends the result of Wales versus Hungary (which Hungary lost eventually, certainly finished second or below). Soriano played the last match of the qualifying, substituted Marrone in the 56th minute. Italy beat Wales 1–0 and finished ahead Wales as the first of Group 3, qualifying directly to play-offs round while Wales were eliminated.

In the play-offs round, he received the call-up[31] but failed to enter the line-up nor on the bench in the first leg.

Senior team

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On 9 November 2014, he was called up by Antonio Conte to the senior Italy squad ahead of a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Croatia and a friendly against Albania.[32] He debuted against Croatia at the San Siro on the 16th, replacing Manuel Pasqual in the 28th minute of a 1–1 draw.[33]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 8 April 2023[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Empoli (loan) 2010–11 Serie B 27 2 2 0 29 2
Sampdoria 2011–12 Serie B 13 1 0 0 3[a] 0 16 1
2012–13 Serie A 24 0 1 0 25 0
2013–14 29 5 0 0 29 5
2014–15 33 4 2 0 35 4
2015–16 37 8 1 0 2[b] 0 40 8
Total 136 18 4 0 2 0 3 0 145 18
Villarreal 2016–17 La Liga 33 9 3 1 7[c] 0 43 10
2017–18 22 0 2 0 6[b] 0 30 0
Total 55 9 5 1 13 0 73 10
Torino (loan) 2018–19 Serie A 11 0 1 1 12 1
Bologna (loan) 2018–19 Serie A 17 2 1 0 18 2
Bologna 2019–20 Serie A 29 5 1 0 30 5
2020–21 37 9 2 0 39 9
2021–22 35 0 1 1 36 1
2022–23 27 1 3 0 30 1
Total 145 17 8 1 153 18
Career total 374 46 20 3 15 0 3 0 412 49
  1. ^ Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 11 November 2020[35]
Italy
Year Apps Goals
2014 1 0
2015 7 0
2020 1 0
Total 9 0

References

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  1. ^ "Roberto Soriano". Bologna F.C. 1909. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ "La rivincita dell'emigrante Soriano" (in Italian). repubblica.it. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Ecco chi è Roberto Soriano, giovane di origini irpine" (in Italian). avellino-calcio.it. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Soriano e Zamblera: nasce la grande Samp del domani". UC Sampdoria (in Italian). 2 February 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Youngster Soriano wechselt nach Genua". FC Bayern Munich (in German). 3 February 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Inter exit Viareggio Cup in semis". FC Internazionale Milano. inter.it. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  7. ^ "Pea: "Juve molto forte e tanta tensione, va bene così"". UC Sampdoria (in Italian). 23 February 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  8. ^ "Il sogno s'infrange nel derby: la Primavera esce di scena". UC Sampdoria (in Italian). 5 June 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  9. ^ "Match Report: Frosinone 2–3 Empoli". Panini Digital (in Italian). Publishered by Lega Serie B. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Napoli Miss Soriano Deadline!". Fanatix. football-italia.net. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  11. ^ "El Villarreal CF ficha a Roberto Soriano" [Villarreal CF signed Roberto Soriano] (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  12. ^ Edoardo Testoni (21 August 2016). "Liga, la prima del Villarreal made in Italy: Soriano e Sansone subito titolari" (in Italian). FoxSports.it. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  13. ^ "UFFICIALE: Torino, arriva Soriano dal Villarreal" (in Italian). Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  14. ^ "UFFICIALE: Torino, risolto il prestito di Soriano. Va al Bologna" (in Italian). Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Roberto Soriano è un giocatore della Salernitana" [Roberto Soriano is a player of Salernitana] (in Italian). Salernitana. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  16. ^ "International tournament: team plays against Moldova, Belarus and Russia". FIGC. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  17. ^ "Minsk Tournament: Italy beats Belgium and finishes third". FIGC. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  18. ^ "Eighteen players for friendly match vs. Romania". FIGC. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  19. ^ "CALCIO, AMICHEVOLE UNDER 19: ITALIA-ROMANIA 3–1". la Repubblica (in Italian). 17 December 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  20. ^ The U19 team (born 1990 class) failed to qualify to 2009 final tournament and graduated, born 1991 players were fielded for U19 matches against born 1990 opponents
  21. ^ "Сборная Украины (U-19) упустила победу над итальянцами" [Ukraine Team (U19) missed victory over Italy]. FC Dynameo Kiev (in Russian). 8 April 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  22. ^ "Under 19: l'8 aprile amichevole a Kiev con l'Ucraina". FIGC (in Italian). 30 March 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  23. ^ "Under 18: convocati 18 Azzurrini per la "Slovacchia Cup"". FIGC (in Italian). 23 April 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  24. ^ Soriano is eligible up to 2011–2013 season
  25. ^ "Casiraghi, 6 esordienti per il doppio impegno contro Galles e Lussemburgo". FIGC (in Italian). 28 August 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  26. ^ "Welsh joy as Ramsey stuns Italy". UEFA. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  27. ^ "Barillà improves Italy's fortunes". UEFA. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  28. ^ "ITALY WINS 3–0 AGAINST TURKEY: IN RUSSIA IN MAY FOR EURO". FIGC. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  29. ^ "Soriano keeps Italy in touch with Wales". UEFA. 3 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  30. ^ "U.21: 1–0 in Bosnia Italia ancora in corsa". Corriere dello Sport – Stadio (in Italian). 3 September 2010. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  31. ^ "PLAY OFF: CON LA BIELORUSSIA TORNANO DE SILVESTRI, POLI, SANTON E MACHEDA". FIGC (in Italian). 1 October 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  32. ^ "Liverpool's Mario Balotelli recalled to Italy squad for Euro qualifier". The Guardian. Press Association. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  33. ^ "Italy cling on to hold Croatia". UEFA. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  34. ^ Roberto Soriano at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  35. ^ Roberto Soriano at National-Football-Teams.com
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