A former AS Roma starlet, Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani has had his career repeatedly disrupted by injuries, not least following a move to Liverpool FC in 2009. A UEFA EURO 2008 participant, he was out of the international reckoning for a couple of years but impressive loan spells at Juventus and AC Milan have put him back in the frame.

• Born in Rome, he made his Serie A debut for Roma in May 2003 before spending a year on loan at second-tier US Triestina Calcio.

• Back with the Giallorossi in 2004/05 and made his UEFA Champions League debut in an abandoned game against FC Dynamo Kyiv; scored in the first minute of his UEFA Cup debut − against Aris Thessaloniki FC − the following term.

• Runner-up in Serie A behind FC Internazionale Milano three seasons running from 2005/06 to 2007/08 but constantly struggled for fitness.

• Won his first senior international cap in a November 2006 friendly against Turkey and scored two goals in four games for the Azzurrini at the 2007 U21 finals; started Italy's quarter-final against Spain at UEFA EURO 2008 as a replacement for suspended Andrea Pirlo.

• Left Roma for Liverpool in 2009 but continued to be hampered by injury, costing him a place in Italy's 2010 FIFA World Cup party; restored to life, however, by a season on loan at Juventus in 2010/11, in which he made 33 Serie A appearances − a personal record for a single campaign.

• After Juventus failed to meet the asking price for a permanent transfer he returned to Merseyside, only to be farmed back to Italy, where he joined Milan for another season-long loan.