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| Nationality: | Italy | | Birthday: | 1981-12-6 | | Biorhythm Today: |  | | Height: | 178cm | | Weight: | 70kg | | Club: | AS Roma | | Club Shirt NO.: | 42 | | Position: | Defender | | Join Date: | 2012-8-1 | | Former Club(s): | Palermo | | Once Club(s): | Palermo,Fiorentina,Juventus,Torino,Siena,A.S. Varese |
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Federico Balzaretti came through the youth ranks at Torino before gaining experience in Serie C1 and B while on loan at Varese and Siena respectively. He returned to his parent club and made his Serie A debut in 2002/03. The team were relegated at the end of that season but Federico remained in Piedmont for two more seasons and was a key member of Toro's promotion charge in 2005. However, in July of the same year Torino was declared bankrupt and he moved to city rivals Juventus. After two seasons with the Old Lady (the second of which in Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal), Balzaretti joined Fiorentina. His time in Florence lasted just six months, though, as Palermo followed up their strong interest by signing him in January 2008, offering him a three-year deal.
It was in Sicily that Federico really came to the fore and established himself as one of Italy's best full-backs, earning his first call-up to Cesare Prandelli's squad in November 2010. He has featured regularly for the Azzurri since then and played a part in Italy's run to the final of EURO 2012, starting the semi-final win over Germany. His consistent performances for Palermo added to his displays in Poland/Ukraine convinced Roma to snap him up, with the transfer completed on 1 August 2012. Zeman's Giallorossi now have another solid attacking full-back option to call upon.
Torino
Federico Balzaretti's playing career started at the age of 6 in the Torino youth system, debuting for the granata in season 2002–03. After a couple of seasons on loan to Varese and Siena, he was heavily involved in Torino's 2004–05 Serie B campaign for promotion, which brought the team to the Serie A.
Juventus
However, as Torino disbanded right after that promotion, Balzaretti was released in a free transfer, and was signed by city arch-rivals Juventus. In 2005–06 he was part of the first team for the bianconeri, often playing as regular under orders of coach Fabio Capello, and finally winning the Serie A league. His first ever senior goal game on 17 February 2007, in Serie B, as Juventus beat Crotone 5–0.
Fiorentina and Palermo
Balzaretti was sold to Fiorentina on July 2007, but failed to adjust with the viola as he made only six appearances in the first half of the Serie A 2007-08, and was subsequently signed by Palermo in a permanent move during the January transfer market.
At Palermo, Balzaretti took the #42 jersey as a homage to his father, who was born in 1942; in his tenure with the Sicilian side, he immediately established himself as a mainstay, playing regularly for the rosanero also in the following seasons and establishing as one of the most praised Italian left backs.
Roma
On 1 August 2012, Balzaretti signed a three-year contract with Roma, for a fee of € 4.5 million. He made his debut in a 2-2 draw against Catania. |
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