Fernando Forestieri

Fernando Martín Forestieri (born 15 January 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Sheffield Wednesday. He is a former Italy U21 international.

Club career

Born in Rosario, Argentina, by Italian parents, Forestieri's career began in 2003 with Newell's Old Boys. Later on that year, when he was just 13, Boca Juniors bought Forestieri for $50,000. With his parents returning home, Forestieri left Boca to join Genoa at the age of 16.

Genoa

In January 2006, Genoa signed Forestieri on a three-year contract. Boca tried to keep the young player, but failed to do so. In March, Boca contested the regularity of the transfer and, refusing a €300,000 indemnification from Genoa, the Argentine club submitted the case to the AFA. That summer he played some friendly matches with Genoa, and in one of them Torino president Urbano Cairo saw Forestieri in action and offered €500,000 for him, but Genoa refused.

On 8 November 2006, Forestieri made his official debut with Genoa in a Coppa Italia loss against Empoli. Forestieri made his Serie B league debut on 13 January 2007, on an away match lost 2–1 to Pescara, by scoring the Genoa goal. He then played as a regular with the Genoa Primavera youth team that won the 2007 International Viareggio trophy.