02 February 2015
A summer signing for Juventus back in July, versatile up-and-coming star Stefano Sturaro returns to Turin following a fruitful loan spell with former club Genoa in order to provide cover for the Bianconeri midfield in both an attacking and defensive dimension.
Born in San Remo on 9 March 1993, he spent the majority of his early career with local team Sanremese before joining Genoa’s youth academy in 2008.
Having proved a key member of the Primavera’s Super Cup winning side in 2010, Sturaro then plied his trade with Serie B outfit Modena during the 2012/13 campaign in order to gain worthwhile experience.
It proved to be a difficult season for him though, in which he suffered two injuries that limited his playing time to only ten appearances in all competitions for the Canarini.
A return to full fitness saw him arrive back at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in the summer of 2013, with the 21-year-old subsequently debuting in Serie A as an 89th minute substitute during the Rossoblu’s 2-0 opening day defeat away at Inter.
Fast forward to January 2014 and Sturaro was making his maiden start for the Grifone on the left hand side of an attacking trident during a 1-0 success against the same opposition on home soil. By the end of an impressive debut term in Italy’s top flight, he had two assists in 16 appearances as well as a first strike scored against Catania to his name.
That was enough for Juventus to call upon his services and sign the Liguria-born midfielder on a five-year contract last summer, immediately loaning him back to Genoa to further his education for the 2014/15 season.
On the international scene, he progressed through the Italy Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 squads before being called up by Azzurri coach Antonio Conte for Italy's 1-0 friendly victory over Albania in Genoa last November where he remained an unused substitute.
Normally deployed as an inside midfielder, Sturaro has also enjoyed playing time in the number ten role and on the wing, namely to cater for his expert crossing ability. He is a powerful, imposing presence in the middle of the park with good feet and is adept at both attacking and defending.
Undoubtedly a talent of the future for both club and country, Sturaro will bolster Massimiliano Allegri’s squad as the Bianconeri continue their assault for a fight on all three fronts during the remainder of this campaign.
