Robert Acquafresca (born September 11, 1987) is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Atalanta, on loan from Genoa.

[edit] Club career

Born in Turin to an Italian father and a Polish mother residing in Alpignano, Acquafresca entered the Torino youth system at the age of 6.^[1] In the 2004-05 Campionato Primavera, he played 14 games and scored two goals for the granata.

In summer 2005, Torino was promoted back to Serie A; however, the FIGC, the governing body of Italian football, expelled Torino from Serie A, due to the club's financial problems, with the consequent free release of all of their players.

He was signed by Internazionale as a youth team player, but two days later was loaned out to Treviso in order to gain first team experience.

Internazionale loaned him to Treviso (also in co-ownership deal), thus partnering former Torino teammate Pinga.

He made eight Serie A appearances in 2005-06 season. As part of the co-ownership deal, Acquafresca remained in Treviso for the 2006-07 Serie B season and scored 11 goals in 35 appearances.

Acquafresca is rated as one of Italy's future prospects and his pace on the ball is lightning fast and finishing inside the box is cool and calm for such a young player.

In summer 2007, Inter bought the remaining half of the co-ownership deal from Treviso.

Acquafresca was involved in the David Suazo transfer, which saw him move to Cagliari on a co-ownership deal. There, he has played 36 games and scored fourteen goals.

On 25 June 2008 it was confirmed that Inter had bought Cagliari's 50% of Acquafresca, making them his sole club, however he will be loaned back to Cagliari for the 2008–09 season.

On 14 July 2008 he revealed that he dreams of wearing the Inter shirt one day. He also thanked Cagliari for letting him grow as a football player so that he one day could fulfill his Inter dream.^[2]

After missing the first game of the season against Lazio, he then played the next five games without opening his account before scoring his first goal of the season against Torino. He scored again the next match at home against Chievo Verona. On November 2 he scored two goals at home against Bologna in a 5-1 win.^[3] He also scored one goal against his future team, Inter, on January 13, 2009. So far, he has scored 4 goals in three different matches that Cagliari ended up winning.

On 29 June 2009. Robert Acquafresca became a member of Genoa C.F.C. as a part of Diego Milito move to Internazionale. ^[4]

[edit] International career

Acquafresca has been capped for Italian U-17s, U18s, U19s and more recently the Under-21 side, making his debut in a qualifying match against Albania on June 1, 2007.^[1] Also, Polish Football Federation, together with national coach Leo Beenhakker, have been trying to convince him to play for Poland. Acquafresca, who speaks Polish, in an interview given to Gazeta Wyborcza (March 14, 2008) said that he would leave the decision to the near future .^[5]. On March 18, he finally opted to refuse the Polish Football Federation offer, and instead confirming his choice to represent Italy at international level. .^[6]

[edit] References

v • d • e Italy squad – 2008 Summer Olympics 1 Viviano • 2 Motta • 3 De Ceglie • 4 Nocerino • 5 Cigarini • 6 Criscito • 7 Montolivo • 8 Marchisio • 9 Rocchi • 10 Giovinco • 11 Rossi • 12 Dessena • 13 Coda • 14 Acquafresca • 15 Bocchetti • 16 De Silvestri • 17 Abate • 18 Consigli • 20 Candreva • 21 Russotto • Coach: Casiraghi