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Fabio Chiarodia’s story is well-known by now. His parents are originally from Veneto and moved to Germany to settle in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony. Their family-run ice cream shop became a local landmark. Fabio grew up with his older sister and brother, Nicole and Alex, and it was clear from a young age that he was destined to do well. At 16, he joined Werder Bremen and joined their boarding school. After the team earned promotion to the Bundesliga, he made his debut at just 17 years and 140 days, becoming the youngest player ever to play for them. Italy quickly took notice and in 2019, he made his first appearance for the Under-15s and steadily worked his way through all the youth national teams. Now at Borussia Monchengladbach, with 51 youth caps to his name, and having overcome a series of injuries, first to his groin, then to his thigh which meant he was out for three months, he has returned as a mainstay in the Under-21 national team’s defence.
CHIARODIA’S RETURN. “I am very happy to be back,” said the from the Azzurrini training camp in Tirrenia. “It hasn’t been easy, I spent a lot of time in the gym and in physiotherapy. Being away from football for all that time is tough, but thanks to the support of my family and friends it went a lot faster.” He lives three hours away from his loved ones, “but my mum comes to see me every two weeks. I’m very close with my brother, sister, and parents, and as soon as I get a couple of days off, I go to visit them.” The three months out due to injury kept him from rejoining the Under-21 national team after starting the September matches against Montenegro in La Spezia and North Macedonia in Bitola. “I really missed the team, but I kept in touch with my teammates, especially the ones I’m closest to. I followed all the games from home. We have a strong group, both on and off the pitch and that’s our real strength.”
CHIARODIA AND MANE Chiarodia’s path has often run alongside his defensive partner Filippo Mane, born in March 2005 in Magenta, who also plays in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund. Mane is currently injured, but the two have frequently paired up at the heart of Italy’s youth team defence. “‘Pippo’ and I are very close, we actually spoke yesterday,” Chiarodia says. “Playing in Germany gives us a lot in common to talk about. At Dortmund, there are also many talented Italians, like Reggiani and Inácio. I’m happy about that. They’re young, strong, and it’s great for all of us.”
PISILLI AND PALESTRA. The team has been shaped by the coach Silvio Baldini’s identity. After Empoli’s 4-0 win, the players watched the senior national team beat Northern Ireland and secure a spot in the World Cup play-off final. When former teammates Pisilli and Palestra walked in, the crowd immediately erupted. “It’s great to see them here,” they said. “We know them, they’re wonderful people, and we’re really happy for them. They show that the jump from the Under-21s to the senior team is big, but definitely achievable. They inspire us, and at the same time, push us to do better.”
SWEDEN. The win over North Macedonia kept the Azzurrini close to Poland, who beat Armenia 4-1 on Friday. Italy remain three points behind in the standings, but the team showed they can pick up right where they left off. “The level is very high, and three points are never guaranteed. You can’t just step onto the pitch expecting an easy win. In Empoli, we did well to score early and knew we would control possession. In the second half, we stretched the defence and moved the ball faster, quickly scoring the second and third goals that put the game out of reach,” the players said. On Tuesday (18:30 CEST, live on Rai 2), they face Sweden in Boras. “It will be another tough match, but we’re preparing well. If we play to our strengths and make the most of our abilities, we can win even away.”
SQUADLIST
Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Gabriele Calvani (Frosinone), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia M'gladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Gabriele Guarino (Empoli), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Mattia Mannini (Juve Stabia); Brando Moruzzi (Empoli);
Midfielders: Tommaso Berti (Cesena), Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma);
Forwards: Alessio Cacciamani (Juve Stabia), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Alvin Okoro (Juve Stabia).