Luciano Valente (footballer, born 2003)

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Luciano Valente
Valente in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-10-04) 4 October 2003 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Groningen, Netherlands
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Groningen
Number 40
Youth career
0000–2014 GVAV-Rapiditas
2014–2022 Groningen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Groningen 53 (7)
International career
2021–2022 Italy U19 3 (0)
2022– Italy U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 06:42, 4 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 September 2022

Luciano Valente (born 4 October 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Eerste Divisie club Groningen. Born in the Netherlands, he represents Italy at international level.

Club career[edit]

Born in Groningen, Valente started playing football at local club GVAV-Rapiditas, before joining Groningen's youth sector in 2014.[2] He subsequently came through the club's ranks, winning a national under-17 championship in 2019 in the process. In July 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Groningen and started training with the first team.[2]

On 14 August 2022, Valente made his professional debut for Groningen, coming in as a substitute for Laros Duarte at the 79th minute of the Eredivisie match against Ajax, which ended in a 6–1 defeat for his side.[3] On September 8, the midfielder extended his contract with the club until 2026, with an option for another season.[4]

On 8 December 2023, Valente scored his first brace in a 2–0 league win over Telstar.[5][6]

International career[edit]

Being born from an Italian father and a Dutch mother, Valente has been able to choose to represent either countries internationally.[7][8]

He has went on to represent the former country at various youth international levels, having featured for the Italian under-19[4][9] and under-20 national teams.[4][10]

Style of play[edit]

Valente is an attacking midfielder, who can also play in several positions through the middle.[7] He has been praised for his strength and his positioning, as well as his ability to create chances, either for himself or his team-mates.[7]

Personal life[edit]

His father, Roberto, is Italian and works at a local pizzeria in Haren.[8]

Career statistics[edit]

As of match played 19 December 2023[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Groningen 2022–23 Eredivisie 20 0 2 0 22 0
2023–24 Eerste Divisie 16 4 2 1 18 5
Career total 36 4 4 1 0 0 40 5

References[edit]

  1. ^ Luciano Valente at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "Valente tekent contract, Jahren versterkt FC op huurbasis" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Ajax vs. Groningen 6 - 1". Soccerway. 14 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Nieuw contract voor Valente bij FC Groningen" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Willem II juicht heel laat in Den Haag, NAC en Groningen klimmen" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  6. ^ Heij, Andor (8 December 2023). "Luciano Valente schiet FC Groningen langs Telstar". OOG Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Nalesso, Pietro (5 November 2021). "Luciano Valente, chi è il nuovo azzurrino per Nunziata". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Valente: 'Vertrouwen van de club doet me heel goed'" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Grazie ad una rete di Degli Innocenti, gli Azzurrini vincono la prima amichevole con l'Ungheria" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  10. ^ "A Varese tris dell'Italia contro la Svizzera. I gol di Montevago, Fabbian e De Nipoti" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Luciano Valente". soccerway.com.

External links[edit]