UEFA honours
UEFA European Championship: runner-up 2012

• A native Tuscan, he joined AC Cesena at 19 and represented the club at youth-team level before spending lengthy loan stints at three Serie C2 teams – FC Forli, AC Bellaria Igea Marina and AC Pavia.

• Back in harness at Cesena in 2008, he made a major contribution to the Seahorses' promotion from Serie B in 2009/10, scoring eight goals in 32 appearances as they finished runners-up to US Lecce.

• Took to Serie A with aplomb, helping to keep Cesena in the division with seven goals – the first in an early-season 2-0 win against AC Milan, the last in a 1-0 victory over Brescia Calcio that secured the club's safety.

• Rewarded for his 2010/11 efforts with a €3m transfer to Juventus; failed to claim a regular place in Antonio Conte's side but made nine starts and 14 substitute appearances in the Scudetto-winning campaign, scoring one goal.

• Received his first international recognition at any level, at the age of 27, when he was included in Italy's UEFA EURO 2012 squad; made two appearances in Poland and Ukraine as Italy finished as runners-up to Spain.