Wikipedia

Giulia Dragoni

Giulia Dragoni (born 7 November 2006) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma, on loan from Liga F club Barcelona, and the Italy women's national team.

Giulia Dragoni
Dragoni in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-11-07) 7 November 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Milan, Italy
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Roma (on loan from Barcelona)
Number 15
Youth career
2015–2020 Pro Sesto
2020–2022 Inter Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Inter Milan 4 (0)
2023–2024 Barcelona B 31 (8)
2023– Barcelona 5 (0)
2024– → Roma (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2021–2022 Italy U16 3 (1)
2021–2023 Italy U17 16 (8)
2022–2023 Italy U19 5 (2)
2023– Italy 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:03, 09 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:30, 16 July 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Early life and Inter Milan

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Born in Milan, Italy,[1] Dragoni started playing football at the age of four,[2] joining grassroots club Franco Scarioni,[3][4] before moving to Cimiano,[2][3][4] and then entering the junior academy of Pro Sesto in 2015.[2][5] Here, she first came to prominence for her performances in mixed-sex junior championships,[1][6] where she played until 2019,[1] earning the nickname "Little Messi".[1][4][7]

Having first joined Inter Milan on trial for a youth tournament in 2018,[8] Dragoni officially entered the club's youth sector in the summer of 2020.[1][4][6] During the 2020–21 campaign, following the halt of several youth leagues due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic,[8] she was promoted to Inter's under-19 squad, aged just 14,[4][8] and contributed to a third-place finish in the national championship.[6][9]

Having been promoted to Inter's first team at the start of the 2022–23 season, under head coach Rita Guarino,[4][10] Dragoni made her professional debut on 20 November 2022, coming in as a substitute for Ghoutia Karchouni in the 74th minute of a goalless league draw against Fiorentina.[4][11] Having just turned 16 years old, she became the youngest player to ever feature in a Serie A match since the league had achieved full-time professional status.[7] She went on to make three more appearances for Inter's senior team before the end of 2022.[4][6][7]

Barcelona

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2022–23 season

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On 31 January 2023, Dragoni officially joined Spanish side Barcelona on a permanent deal, signing a contract until June 2025.[1][4][12] In the process, she became the first non-Spanish member of the women's team setup to reside at La Masia.[1][4][7] Having been registered for the club's reserve team, Barcelona B,[7][12] she scored her first goal for the side on 5 March, in a 3–0 league win over Athletic B.[13] In her first season at the club, she helped Barcelona B win the second-tier title,[7][14] having scored four goals in ten matches;[6][14] she was also included in the first team's title-winning UEFA Women's Champions League squad, despite not featuring in any of their matches.[7][15]

2023–24 season

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At the start of the 2023–24 season, Dragoni was still primarily part of Barcelona B but was included as a regular training player of the first team.[16] She made her first-team debut on 26 November 2023, coming on as a substitute for Mariona Caldentey in the 83rd minute of a 4–0 Liga F win over Athletic Club.[5][17][18] In the process, at 17 years and 19 days, she became the youngest non-Spanish player to make her debut for a senior Barcelona team (in men's or women's football).[5][19] On 13 December, she made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut, coming on for Esmee Brugts in the 78th minute of a 6–0 win over FC Rosengård in the group stage,[20] and a month later she made her first start and scored her first goal for Barcelona's first team, opening the scoring in a 6–0 Copa de la Reina win over Fundación Albacete.[19][21]

Barcelona completed a quadruple, with Dragoni becoming the first Italian player to win the women's Champions League, also winning the league title, the Copa de la Reina and the Supercopa.[22][23] While she was given few opportunities to play for the first team, Spanish newspaper Sport stated that she "brought something different" every time she featured for Barcelona.[24]

 
Dragoni playing with Roma in the 2024 Women's Champions League.

Loan to Roma

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On 17 July 2024, Dragoni renewed her contract with Barcelona until 2027,[25][26] and subsequently joined Serie A club Roma on a season-long loan.[26][27] Dragoni made her Serie A debut with Roma on 30 August 2024, coming on as a substitute for Benedetta Glionna in the 58th minute of a 2–2 draw with Lazio.[28]

International career

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Dragoni has represented Italy at various youth international levels, having played for the under-16, under-17[1][4] and under-19 national teams.[7][29]

In March 2023 she received her first call-up to the Italian senior national team for the friendly match against Colombia.[30] In June of the same year, she was included in the preliminary squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup by head coach Milena Bertolini.[31][32] She subsequently made her debut for the Azzurre on 1 July, coming on as a substitute in the second half of a friendly match against Morocco, which ended in a goalless draw:[33][34] at 16 years and 236 days, she became the youngest person to represent an Italian senior national football team in the 21st century,[7] but did not beat the all-time record, originally established by Carolina Morace in 1978.[7][15]

The following day, she was officially included in the final 23-women squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, aged just 16;[7][35][36] in the process, she became the second youngest player to get called up for the tournament, behind only Casey Phair.[37][38] On 24 July 2023, Dragoni started in a 1–0 group stage win over Argentina:[39][40] at 16 years and 259 days,[39] she became the youngest player to ever represent the Azzurre in the competition's history,[41][42] a record that previously belonged to Rita Guarino,[41][43] while also overtaking Giuseppe Bergomi as Italy's youngest player to take part in any World Cup match, including both men's and women's football.[6][43] She also became the second-youngest European player to feature in a FIFA Women's World Cup game.[42]

Style of play

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Dragoni mainly operates as a midfielder in the mezzala role;[6] she is best known for her dribbling skills,[6][8] as well as her ball control, her passing and her tactical intelligence.[6]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 30 August 2024[44][45]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Inter Milan 2022–23 Serie A 4 0 0 0 – – 4 0
Barcelona B 2022–23 Primera Federación 10 4 – – – 10 4
2023–24 Primera Federación 14 2 – – – 14 2
Total 24 6 – – – 24 6
Barcelona 2023–24 Liga F 5 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 9 1
Roma 2024-25 Serie A 1 0 – – – 1 0
Career total 34 6 3 1 1 0 0 0 38 7
  1. ^ Appearances in Copa de la Reina
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Women's Champions League

International

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As of match played 16 July 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Italy 2023 6 0
2024 6 0
Total 12 0

Honours

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Barcelona
Individual
  • IFFHS Women's Youth (U20) UEFA Team: 2023[47]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Giulia Dragoni, la piccola Messi va a Barcellona: prima calciatrice straniera alla Cantera". Il Giorno. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Lignelli, Matteo (29 June 2023). "Giulia Dragoni: "La nuova vita tra Barça e Nazionale. Grazie a un segreto di papà"". Cronache di spogliatoio. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b Cannatà, Fabio (17 May 2017). "Guarda guarda in campo c'è, una nuova giocatrice: Giulia Dragoni!" (in Italian). Sprint e Sport. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Griñán, Marta (31 January 2023). "Giulia Dragoni, la primera perla internacional de La Masia". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Maioli, Mariarosa (29 November 2023). "Giulia Dragoni, a soli 17 anni abbatte il record che fu di Messi e fa sognare il calcio azzurro". Il Giorno (in Italian). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Perché l'esordio di Giulia Dragoni è importante". L'Ultimo Uomo (in Italian). 25 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Burhan, Asif (3 July 2023). "Giulia Dragoni Set To Play At Women's World Cup Aged 16". Forbes. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Ferrio, Edoardo (24 April 2021). "Quattordici anni e non sentirli, ecco a voi Giulia Dragoni". La Giovane Italia News (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  9. ^ "L'Inter batte la Florentia ai calci di rigore e chiude al terzo posto il Campionato Primavera". FIGC (in Italian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  10. ^ Ricci, Filippo Maria (2 February 2022). "Dal Cimiano al Barça, il sogno della ragazza che dribblava i maschi". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  11. ^ Iannucci, Federica (20 November 2022). "Termina con un pareggio senza reti la sfida tra la Fiorentina femminile e l'Inter Women". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Giulia Dragoni arriba a La Masia". FC Barcelona (in Catalan). 31 January 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  13. ^ Ricchiuti, Rita (6 March 2023). "Primo gol per Giulia Dragoni con il Barcellona". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  14. ^ a b Griñán, Marta (3 July 2023). "Del Barça B al sueño del Mundial". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Giulia Dragoni ai Mondiali: da Forbes alla BBC, all'estero tutti ne parlano". L Football (in Italian). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  16. ^ Gascón, Javier (7 September 2023). "El '7' de Salma, el '22' de Ona y el '24 de Brugts, novedades en los dorsales". Mundo Deportivo (in European Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  17. ^ Gil, Aimara G. (26 November 2023). "Otro recital de Hansen". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  18. ^ Pozzoli, Martina (26 November 2023). "Giulia Dragoni debutta nella prima squadra del Barcellona". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  19. ^ a b Pozzoli, Martina (13 January 2024). "Primo gol per Giulia Dragoni con il Barcellona". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Barca thrash Rosengard to continue perfect start". BBC Sport. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  21. ^ Gil, Aimara G. (13 January 2024). "Set en blanco del Barcelona en Albacete". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  22. ^ Pozzoli, Martina (25 May 2024). "Giulia Dragoni è la prima italiana a vincere la Champions League". L Football. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e Gil, Aimara G. (26 May 2024). "El inédito póquer en España". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  24. ^ Tikas, Maria (30 May 2024). "El 1x1 de una temporada perfecta". Diario Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Dragoni, renovada i cedida a l'AS Roma". FC Barcelona (in Catalan). 17 July 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  26. ^ a b Moreno, Alejandro (17 July 2024). "El Barcelona renueva a Dragoni y la cede a la Roma". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Giulia Dragoni è una nuova calciatrice della Roma!". AS Roma (in Italian). 17 July 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Lazio vs. AS Roma Match Report – Friday August 30, 2024". FBref.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Italia, la partenza è quella giusta: a Vercelli superata la Grecia per 4–0. Mazzantini: "Gara interpretata al meglio"". FIGC (in Italian). 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Verso il Mondiale: trenta convocate per l'amichevole con la Colombia, prima chiamata per Beccari, Dragoni, Pavan e Schatzer". FIGC (in Italian). 29 March 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Da lunedì a Brunico 32 Azzurre si giocano il posto per il Mondiale. Il 1° luglio test con il Marocco in diretta su Rai 2". FIGC (in Italian). 23 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  32. ^ Iannucci, Federica (23 June 2023). "Nazionale femminile, le 32 convocate per la seconda parte del raduno pre Mondiale". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Regge il muro del Marocco: l'ultimo test prima della partenza per la Nuova Zelanda finisce 0–0. Bertolini: "Meglio nel secondo tempo"". FIGC (in Italian). 1 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  34. ^ Scognamiglio, Pietro (1 July 2023). "Italia, col Marocco tante giovani e l'esordio di Dragoni". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  35. ^ "Italy name 16-year-old Dragoni in World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Verso il Mondiale, ufficializzata la lista delle 25 Azzurre in partenza per la Nuova Zelanda". FIGC (in Italian). 2 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  37. ^ Pozzoli, Martina (14 July 2023). "Da Giulia Dragoni a Casey Phair: le giovanissime calciatrici al Mondiale". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  38. ^ Nava, Matteo (21 July 2023). "I test sbriciolati, la Masia, il Mondiale a 16 anni: la scalata di Giulia Dragoni". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  39. ^ a b "Girelli decisive as Italy beat Argentina". BBC Sport. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  40. ^ Scognamiglio, Pietro (24 July 2023). "Mondiale donne, è subito grande Italia! L'eterna Girelli affonda l'Argentina". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  41. ^ a b Pozzoli, Martina (24 July 2023). "Giulia Dragoni è la più giovane italiana di sempre a debuttare in un mondiale". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  42. ^ a b Morse, Ben (24 July 2023). "Italy wins 1-0 against Argentina as 16-year-old 'Little Messi' Giulia Dragoni makes debut at Women's World Cup". CNN. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  43. ^ a b Ferri, Alessandro (24 July 2023). "Giulia Dragoni "polverizza" Beppe Bergomi: è l'azzurra più giovane di sempre ai Mondiali". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  44. ^ Giulia Dragoni at Soccerway
  45. ^ Dragoni at BDFutbol
  46. ^ a b c d Morse, Ben (25 May 2024). "Barcelona retains Women's Champions League title, completing historic quadruple". CNN. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  47. ^ "IFFHS WOMEN'S YOUTH (U20) UEFA TEAM 2023". IFFHS. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
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