Roberto Soriano

Roberto Soriano (born 8 February 1991) is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie B club Sampdoria.

Club career

Despite born in Darmstadt, Germany, Soriano's family is from Avellino, Italy. He started his career with Bayern Munich. he was spotted by scouts in 2007 Champions Youth Cup with Die Roten.

Sampdoria

On 2 February 2009 Soriano moved to Italy for Sampdoria for undisclosed fee, to buy his remaining 1½ year contract with the Bavaria club.^[1][2] Soriano immediately entered the Primavera team for 2009 Torneo di Viareggio,^[3] where the Genoa based club finished as the runner-up.^[4] In 2009–10 season, Soriano finished as the losing semi-finalists at Campionato Nazionale Primavera playoffs phase.^[5]

Empoli

In June 2010, he was loaned to Serie B side Empoli. Soriano made his club debut on 15 August 2010, substituted Gianluca Musacci at the second half. That match Empoli 4–1 won Reggiana. He made his first start in the next match, the first Serie B match of the season, as defensive/holding midfielder along with Davide Moro. He was substituted by Mirko Valdifiori in the 66th minute, at that time 1–1 draw with Frosinone. The away match ended in Empoli 3–2 Frosinone.^[6] Soriano then on the bench in the next match as Musacci regained his starting place. In round 5 he returned to starting XI and as one of the central/defensive midfielder in the next 2 round (442 formation and 4312 formation). On 11 December he scored his first Serie B goal in the game against Portogruaro.

International career

Italy U17

Soriano played all three matches in 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship elite round. He also received a call-up to 2008 Minsk under-17 International Tournament^[7] He scored a goal in the third place match.^[8]

Italy U18/19

Soriano then received a call-up against Romania in December 2008^[9] from Italy U19 team (born 1991 class). He started that match which Italy won Romania 3–1.^[10] He then received call-up to all upcoming U18/19 matches,^[11] played the friendly against Norway in March, unused member against Ukraine (born 1990 class) in April^[12][13] and a U18 international tournament in Slovakia.^[14]

Italy U21 (2009)

In August 2009, he was promoted to U21 team despite young age, for the match against Wales.^[15] Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi called-up 6 new players in that match, only Mattia Perin and Lorenzo Crisetig younger than Soriano among the new faces.^[16] He made his debut in the first match of U21 qualification, a 1–2 lost to Wales on 4 September 2009.^[17] He also played in the subsequence 2 qualification match in September and October and played one of the two qualifying match in November. He was in the starting XI in the first 3 appearances, and substituted Luca Marrone in the 4th matches in November, which he also scored a goal in that 4–0 won against Luxembourg.^[18]

Italy U19 return

In January 2010 he returned to U19 team^[19] and played in elite qualification and final tournament, which Italy finished the last in Group B (equal 7th).

Italy U21 (2010)

On 3 September 2010, Soriano returned to U21 team and scored the winning goal for Azzurrini in the second last qualifying match.^[20][21] Italy must win the last 2 matches and depends the result of Wales verse Hungary (which Hungary lost eventually, certainly finished second or below). Soriano played the last match of the qualifying, substituted Marrone in the 56th minute. Italy won Wales 1–0 and made Italy ahead Wales as the first of Group 3, qualified directly to play-offs round while Wales eliminated .

In the play-offs round, he received the call-up^[22] but failed to enter the line-up nor on the bench in the first leg.

References

External links

• Sampdoria Profile (Italian)
• Soccerway Profile
• FIGC National Team data (Italian)