Nicolò Bertola (born 23 March 2003) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie B club Spezia.[1]

Nicolò Bertola
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Carrara, Italy
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Spezia Calcio
Number 77
Youth career
2006-2010 San Marco Avenza
2010–2021 Spezia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Spezia 18 (1)
2022–2023Aquila Montevarchi (loan) 22 (1)
International career
2021–2022 Italy U19 2 (0)
2024– Italy U21 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024

Early life

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Nicolò Bertola was born in Carrara, the most northern province of Tuscany, where he very soon started to play football, joining the local Scuola Calcio of San Marco Avenza while only aged 3.[2][3]

Club career

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Bertola joined the Spezia Calcio academy as a 7 years old from his nearby hometown club, growing through the youth ranks of the Serie B club and becoming the captain of the under-17 team during the 2019–20 season, whilst playing his first Primavera games, as the first team achieved his first ever Serie A promotion.[2][3][4]

In 2020–21 he also took the captain's armband with Primavera, even earning his first calls to the Serie A team by Vincenzo Italiano.[2][3][5]

The following season—under Thiago Motta's new management—he became a regular presence in the pro squad,[4][6] eventually making his professional debut for Spezia on the 16 December 2021, starting the Coppa Italia 2–0 home loss to Lecce as a centre-back.[2][7][8] Bertola was then ranked among's Italy most promising under-19.[9][10]

On 31 August 2022, Bertola joined Aquila Montevarchi in Serie C on loan.[11]

International career

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First called to the under-19 selection by Carmine Nunziata in August 2021,[2][12] he made his debut during a 1-0 friendly home win against Albania.[13] He was also selected for a second time by the head coach in February 2022.[14][15]

Style of play

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A centre-back with a strong physical presence—already measuring 1.93m while still a teenager—good at winning duels, with a great sense of anticipation. Having first played as a regista—a deep-lying playmaker—in his early youth, he is also good with possession, able to build the game from the back.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Nicolò Bertola at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bonatti, Andrea (4 February 2022). "Bertola il neopatentato: "Basta passaggi da Zoet. Maggiore e Bastoni un riferimento"". Citta della Spezia (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Lamia, Paolo Lora (16 October 2021). "Chi è Nicolò Bertola dello Spezia: età, ruolo e caratteristiche". Minuti di recupero (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Parenti, Niccolò (19 November 2021). "Nicolò Bertola, il leader difensivo dello Spezia". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ Parenti, Niccolò (22 May 2021). "Spezia, prima convocazione in Serie A per Pietra e Bertola". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. ^ Brianti, Simone (15 October 2021). "Spezia, difesa nei guai: Motta pensa a Bertola dal 1'". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  7. ^ Tessier, Umberto (17 December 2021). "Spezia Lecce (0-2) gol e highlights: salentini agli ottavi (Coppa Italia)". IlSussidiario.net (in Italian). Fondazione per la Sussidiarietà. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Spezia-Lecce: esordio tra i professionisti per Nicolò Bertola". Spezia Calcio. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  9. ^ Pellegrini, Luca (4 January 2022). "Ranking Under 19: Giorgio Scalvini chiude il 2021 in testa". La Giovane Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  10. ^ Patamia, Fabio (7 January 2022). "Under 19, la top ten del calcio italiano del futuro". tuttocampo.it (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Nicolò Bertola è un nuovo giocatore dell'Aquila Montevarchi" (in Italian). Montevarchi. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Nazionali: Bertola convocato dall'Under 19". Spezia Calcio. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  13. ^ Colombo, Michela (13 August 2021). "Italia Albania Under 19 (risultato finale 1-0): la decide De Nipoti". IlSussidiario.net (in Italian). Fondazione per la Sussidiarietà. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Chiamata azzurra per Nicolò Bertola, convocato dall'U19 di Carmine Nunziata". Citta della Spezia (in Italian). 3 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Under 19, i convocati di Nunziata per la Turchia: c'è anche Faticanti". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 3 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
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