Lorenzo Insigne

Lorenzo Insigne (Italian pronunciation: [loˈrɛntso inˈsiɲɲe]; born 4 June 1991) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Italian club Napoli and the Italy national team. Insigne is capable of playing on either flank, or through the centre, but is usually deployed as left winger. He is known in particular for his creativity, speed, and technical ability, as well as his accuracy from free-kicks.

Insigne has represented the Italy national under-21 football team, with whom he won a runner-up medal at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He made his debut for the senior national team in September 2012, and has represented Italy at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Foggia and Pescara

A member of the Napoli Youth Academy, in 2010, Insigne was sold to Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Foggia in a co-ownership deal with Napoli; during his time with Foggia, he scored 19 goals under the tenure of Czech coach Zdeněk Zeman.

On 8 July 2011, Insigne agreed to re-join Zeman, accepting a one-year loan to Serie B club Pescara. Insigne formed a notable offensive partnership with teammate Ciro Immobile, who was the Serie B top goalscorer with 28 goals as Pescara topped Serie B that season, scoring 27 more goals than any other team in the competition; Insigne managed 18 goals in the league himself as the club's second highest scorer, also providing 14 assists that season, heavily contributing to the team's success. Due to their victory in Serie B, Pescara were promoted to Serie A with Zeman's ultra-attacking style of football. At the 2012 AIC Gran Gala del Calcio, Insigne was named the "Best Player" of the previous Serie B season, along with his former Pescara team-mates Immobile, and Marco Verratti.

Ciro Immobile

Ciro Immobile (Italian pronunciation: [ˈtʃiro imˈmɔbile]; born 20 February 1990) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Torino, on loan from Spanish club Sevilla, and for the Italian national team.

He began his career at Sorrento. In 2009 he was purchased by Juventus to play as a substitute, and then loaned out to three different clubs before moving to Genoa in 2012. After a season with the club, he moved to Juventus' rivals Torino. In his only season at Torino, he won the Capocannoniere award nominated for being the top scorer in Serie A, where he scored 22 goals in 33 games. After his breakout season at Torino, he was sold to German club Borussia Dortmund for around €18 million.

Immobile made his debut for the Italian national team in 2014 and was included in the squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Sorrento and Juventus

Born in Torre Annunziata, in the province of Naples, Immobile began his youth career in the football school "Torre Annunziata '88", before transferring to "Maria Rosa" and finally the youth team of Salernitana, where he, however, failed to emerge. He later joined Sorrento, with whom he scored 30 goals in the under-17 during the 2007–08 season, including a brace against Torino, impressing the observers of Juventus.

Marco Verratti

Marco Verratti (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmarko verˈratti]; born 5 November 1992) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for French club Paris Saint Germain in Ligue 1 and the Italian national football team.

A creative, hard-working, and technically gifted playmaker, Verratti began his career with Italian club Pescara in 2008, where he soon rose to prominence as one of the best young midfielders in Europe, helping the team to win the 2011–12 Serie B title, and winning the 2012 Bravo Award. His playing style drew comparisons with Andrea Pirlo, due to his passing ability, vision, and control, as well as his similar transition from the role of trequartista to that of a regista. In July 2012, he transferred to French side Paris Saint-Germain, where he won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles, among other domestic and individual trophies.

At international level, Verratti represented the Italy under-21 football team at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, winning a runners-up medal, and being named to the all-star squad for the tournament. At senior level, he made his Italy debut in 2012, and represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.