Fans of Football Manager probably know all about him, but just in case you have avoided the clutches of the highly addictive computer game, we thought now would be a good time to shine the spotlight on Fiorentina and Italy ace Riccardo Montolivo considering the interest in him shown by Europe's elite clubs.
Name: Riccardo Montolivo
DOB: 18/0185
Born: Caravaggio, northern Italy
Position: Midfielder
Club: Fiorentina
International: 31 Italy caps, one goal
WHAT'S THE LATEST NEWS?
His contract at Fiorentina expires at the end of the 2011/12 season and, while both Milan and Juventus are believed to be circling, talkSPORT has reported that Riccardo Montolivo is keen on a move to the Premier League, sparking interest from both Arsenal and Man United. With Sir Alex Ferguson apparently in pursuit of Montolivo's goal scoring team-mate Stevan Jovetic, it seems all the more reason to move.
DID YOU KNOW?
1) Montolivo began his career at Atalanta when the club were in Serie B. He played alongside fellow academy graduate Giampaolo Pazzini, now of Inter, and the team won promotion to the Italian top flight in the 2003/04 season. The club were relegated in 2005, when Montolivo left for Fiorentina. In the summer of 2011, Pazzini claimed he'd love to be reunited with his former colleague: "He's a great midfielder who sets up a lot of goals."
2) His best position is in the middle of the park, though at times he has been forced to operate out on the left. Before former Serbia international Sinisa Mihajlovic was sacked as Fiorentina coach in November 2011, he claimed Montolivo “can change games in that [centre] position, where you're required to play it simple, and that's a more difficult skill in football than you'd think.”
3) Three years after joining Fiorentina, Montolivo was appointed captain of the club but ahead of the current 2011/12 season, he was removed from the role as his commitment to the club remained uncertain. Towards the end of the 2010/11 campaign, some sections of the Florence club's support were even calling for him to removed from the role.
4) Montolivo had to wait until 2007 before making his international bow and he went on to represent his country at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing where Italy were eliminated by Belgium in the quarter-finals. He scored in the 3-0 group stage win against South Korea and in addition played in all three of his country's 2010 World Cup matches. His first and only international goal came against Spain in Italy's 2-1 win in August 2011. Montolivo put the Azzuri 1-0 ahead, with Xabi Alonso levelling and Alberto Aquilani winning it.
5) His mum is from Kiel, northern Germany, and as a result the midfielder holds German citizenship, too.
THEY SAY
“He is one for the big stages, one of the best Italian midfielders blessed with great skills and athleticism.” Milan president Massimiliano Allegri
"He has a lot of talent, great vision and always knows where the goal is. It's great to play in the same team as him" Italy and Inter striker Giampaolo Pazzini
VIDEO EVIDENCE
