Luciano Valente (footballer, born 2003)

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.

Not to be confused with Luciano Valente (footballer, born 1981).

Luciano Valente
Valente in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-10-04) 4 October 2003[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 28 (0)
International career‡
2021–2022 Italy U19 3 (0)
2022– Italy U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:43, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 September 2022

Club career

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]

International career

Being born from an Italian father and a Dutch mother, Valente has been able to choose to represent either countries internationally.[4][5][6]

So far, the midfielder has represented the former country at various youth international levels, having featured for the Italian under-19 and under-20 national teams.[4][7][8]

Style of play

Valente is an attacking midfielder, who can also play in several positions through the middle.[5] 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.[5]

Personal life

His father, Roberto, is Italian and works at a local pizzeria in Haren.[6]

Career statistics
As of match played 7 April 2023[9]
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 17 0 2 0 0 0 19 0
Career total 17 0 2 0 0 0 19 0

    References
    1. Luciano Valente at WorldFootball.net
    2. "Valente tekent contract, Jahren versterkt FC op huurbasis". FC Groningen (in Dutch). 5 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    3. "Ajax vs. Groningen 6 - 1". Soccerway. 14 August 2022.
    4. "Nieuw contract voor Valente bij FC Groningen". FC Groningen (in Dutch). 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    5. Nalesso, Pietro (5 November 2021). "Luciano Valente, chi è il nuovo azzurrino per Nunziata". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    6. "Valente: 'Vertrouwen van de club doet me heel goed'". FC Groningen (in Dutch). 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    7. "Grazie ad una rete di Degli Innocenti, gli Azzurrini vincono la prima amichevole con l'Ungheria". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 11 November 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    8. "A Varese tris dell'Italia contro la Svizzera. I gol di Montevago, Fabbian e De Nipoti". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 27 September 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
    9. "Luciano Valente". soccerway.com.
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