UEFA honours
UEFA European Championship: runner-up 2012

• Left home town club AS Viterbese Calcio for Inter's youth team in summer 2005.

• Made his Serie A debut for the Nerazzurri in the last game of the 2005/06 season against Cagliaro Calcio, his only league appearance for the club before joining Treviso in a shared-ownership deal in January 2007.

• Spent a further loan spell at Pisa in the first half of 2009 before signing for Genoa CFC, who immediately transferred him to Bari, where he excelled under coach Giampiero Ventura, starting all 38 games in his first full Serie A campaign.

• Made his debut for Italy in a goalless friendly against Cameroon on 3 March 2010 and scored on his second appearance, a 2-1 defeat by Mexico; included in Marcello Lippi's FIFA World Cup squad but did not see any action in South Africa.

• Joined Juventus on a five-year contract after just one season at Bari, replacing Fabio Cannavaro as Giorgio Chiellini's central defensive partner − a combination used by Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying.

• Helped the Bianconeri back line become the tightest in the league as they lifted the 2011/12 Serie A title, conceding just 20 goals in 38 matches; called up to the Italy squad for UEFA EURO 2012 and played every match as Italy finished as runners-up to Spain.