Federico Gatti was on hand to tap home from a Dusan Vlahovic header in Juventus’ win over Sporting CP in the Europa League quarter-final, notching the game’s only goal after 73 minutes.
It has been an extraordinary rise to the top for the 24-year-old centre-half, who was playing football as an amateur less than five years ago.
Gatti grew up in Brianza and left school aged 17 to start work as a bricklayer in order to earn a bit of money for himself and his family. He played football initially for fun, a hobby and distraction after work.
Verbania gave Gatti his first permanent opportunity in the senior game, where he played 29 games in the Eccellenza division and a further 22 in Serie D the following season.
Pro Partia gave Gatti his first experience in professional football, where he played 36 games in all competitions under Ivan Javorcic just two seasons ago in 2020-21.
Frosinone provided an opportunity to step up yet another division the following season, where Gatti eventually scooped up the league’s young player of the season award.
His performances with Frosinone drew the attention of Juventus, who captured Gatti’s signature in January 2022 before being sent back on loan to Frosinone for the remainder of the season.
Since then, the former amateur has made 16 appearances across all competitions for the Bianconeri and on Thursday evening, grabbed his first goal in black and white, which he later tributed to his late grandfather.
The 24-year-old is contracted in Turin until the summer of 2026 and is expected to continue on his path to becoming a regular in Massimilano Allegri’s starting line-ups.