Simone Verdi career profile
Bologna’s new attacker has had a roundabout route to his current playing position. Throughout his footballing education at AC Milan, he played as a winger in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 and even adapted well to playing behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1. He had his first experience of senior football at Ventura’s Torino after being fast-tracked through the youth set-up and he again played as a winger in Il Toro’s ultra-attacking 4-2-4 system. It was in his breakthrough season at Empoli – which culminated in promotion – that Verdi made his name playing as an out-and-out number 10. He maintained a high standard of play over 40 games that season and provided excellent service to Tavano and Maccarone in addition to scoring five goals himself.
Born in Pavia in 1992, Verdi boasts excellent ball control and an ability to beat his man. He is strong with both feet and his play is characterised by his elegant style, his speed of movement and a certain unpredictability. As a genuine two-footed player, he can operate on both flanks and his skill is complemented by his speed, a rare and much-prized asset. His pace allows him to aid counterattacks and quickly move into space both with and without the ball. A part of the Italy youth set-up during his time with Milan, he made his Under-21 debut two summers ago and he was part of Di Biagio’s side in 2015 for the Under-21 European Championship in the Czech Republic.
After being signed by Empoli for their first season back in Serie A, he became an important reference point in attack scoring against Napoli and Roma in the Coppa Italia. He then spent his last season on loan in the Basque Country with Eibar but returned to Serie A with Carpi for the second half of the season after fitness problems, scoring three goals in eight appearances. With a penalty and a great goal on the turn, he scored a brace away at Udinese on the final day but it wasn’t enough to starve off relegation for the Emilian side. In July 2016, he joined the Rossoblu on a permanent basis.
