Marco Benassi

Marco Benassi (born 8 September 1994) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Marco Benassi
Benassi with Torino in 2015
Personal information
Full name Marco Benassi[1]
Date of birth (1994-09-08) 8 September 1994
Place of birth Modena, Italy
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2007–2011 Modena
2011–2012 Inter Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Inter Milan 6 (0)
2013–2014 → Livorno (loan) 20 (2)
2014–2017 Torino 85 (11)
2017–2023 Fiorentina 93 (13)
2020–2021 → Hellas Verona (loan) 0 (0)
2022 → Empoli (loan) 12 (0)
2023 → Cremonese (loan) 15 (0)
International career
2011–2012 Italy U18 8 (1)
2012–2013 Italy U19 13 (1)
2013–2017 Italy U21 27 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 June 2023

Club career

Early career

Born in Modena, Benassi began his career at his local club Modena. In January 2011 Benassi was signed by Inter Milan on a temporary deal. After a half-season with the Inter U17 youth team, Benassi signed for Inter permanently in a co-ownership deal for €180,000.[2] Benassi was a member of both Inter U18 and U19 team in 2011–12 season, winning the Primavera league and European title – NextGen Series. He also played for the U18 team in the league playoffs round, winning the Berretti league.

Benassi was included in summer training camp by his former U19 team coach Andrea Stramaccioni, winning the pre-season TIM Trophy and well as being included in the 25-men List A squad for 2012–13 UEFA Europa League; as one of the four essential association trained player (local player) as required by UEFA.[3] In October 2012 he signed a new five-year contract.[4]

Benassi made his senior debut for Inter 22 November 2012 against Russian side Rubin Kazan in the starting XI. Fielding a younger squad, Inter lost 3–0. On 12 January 2013, he made his Serie A debut for Inter, starting in a 2–0 victory over Pescara. On 21 February 2013, he scored his first senior goal against CFR Cluj.

Loan to Livorno

On 9 July 2013, he was transferred on loan to Livorno, making his competitive debut on 17 August in a 1–0 Coppa Italia defeat against Siena. He scored his first goal in the Italian top flight on 26 January 2014 at home to Sassuolo, before scoring his second of the season on 16 March against Bologna.

Torino

On 1 July 2014, it was officially announced that Benassi was sold to Torino under a co-ownership agreement, as part of the transfer that brought Danilo D'Ambrosio to Inter in January.[5][6][7][8] He made his debut for the Granata as a substitute during the third round of the 2014–15 Europa League which Torino won 3–0 against Swedish club Brommapojkarna.[9] On 18 January 2015 he scored his first goal for Torino against Cesena. He scored again on 8 March after entering as a substitute for Alessandro Gazzi, marking the final goal in a 3–2 defeat at the Stadio Friuli against Udinese. He returned to the scoresheet in the final game of the season against Cesena (the match ended 5–0 in favour of Torino).

On 25 June 2015, the deadline for the expiration of the co-ownership, Torino acquired the other half of his contract for an additional €3.3 million,[10] after winning a blind auction against the reported €2.9 million offered by the Nerazzurri.[11][12] At the start of his second season with the club he changed his shirt number, from 94 to 15. During a 2–1 win over Palermo on 27 September 2015, Benassi scored with a volley reminiscent of Marco van Basten's strike in the final of Euro 88.[13][14][15] On 7 February 2016 he opened the scoring in a home loss against Chievo Verona.[16] He finished the season with 32 appearances in which he scored three goals.

He scored his first goal of the 2016–17 season in a 2–1 win against Fiorentina on 2 October 2016; a match in which he also wore the captain's armband for the first time for Torino.[17]

Fiorentina

On 9 August 2017, Fiorentina announced the signing of Benassi on a five-year deal.[18]

Hellas Verona (loan)

On 12 September 2020, Benassi joined Hellas Verona on a season-long loan, with option to buy.[19] However, due to various injuries, he missed the entire season, making only one appearance on the team's substitutes bench on 20 February 2021 for the Serie A game against Genoa. At the season's end, he returned to Fiorentina.

Empoli (loan)

On 22 January 2022, Benassi moved to Empoli on loan.[20]

Cremonese (loan)

On 19 January 2023, Benassi joined Cremonese on loan for the rest of the 2022–23 season.[21]

Release by Fiorentina

On 2 September 2023, Benassi's contract with Fiorentina was terminated by mutual consent.[22]

International career

Benassi played all 3 games in the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification.[23] He made his debut with the Italy under-21 squad on 14 August 2013, under Luigi Di Biagio, in the friendly match Slovakia-Italy (1–4). From 10–12 March 2014, he was called up by the head coach of the senior national team, Cesare Prandelli, as part of an evaluate of young players ahead of the 2014 World Cup.[24]

He took part in the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic where he scored a brace in the last game of the group stage against England.[25] Benassi began the subsequent biennial cycle as captain of the under-21 squad.

In May 2016 he was called up to the senior national team by coach Antonio Conte in preparation for the UEFA Euro 2016. He was subsequently included in the list of 30 provisional players for the tournament.[26] On 31 May, he was named one of three reserves for the senior side for Euro 2016.[27] On 7 October, he was called up again, this time by Gian Piero Ventura, as a replacement for the injured Riccardo Montolivo for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Macedonia.[28]

In June 2017, he was included in the Italy under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Di Biagio.[29] Italy were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals on 27 June, following a 3–1 defeat.[30]

Style of play

A talented, hard-working, well-rounded and versatile box-to-box midfielder,[31][32][33] Benassi is capable of playing both as a defensive midfielder[34] or as a more offensive minded central midfielder;[35][36] he has also been used as a winger.[37] In addition, he is both a skilled tackler and physically strong with good vision and technique, as well as an ability to time and make late attacking runs from behind into the box. He also possesses a good ability to strike from distance.[38][39][40]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 21 May 2022[41]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Inter Milan2012–13 Serie A 60304[lower-alpha 1]1—131
Livorno (loan) 2013–14 Serie A 20210——212
Torino 2014–15 Serie A 2530011[lower-alpha 1]0—363
2015–1632311——334
2016–1728510——295
Total 851121110009812
Fiorentina 2017–18 Serie A 35520——375
2018–19 32742——369
2019–20 18142——223
2021–22 6020——80
Total 9113124000010317
Hellas Verona (loan) 2020–21 Serie A 0000——00
Empoli (loan) 2021–22 Serie A 12000——120
Career total 214261851510024732
  1. All appearances in Europa League

Honours

Inter Milan

References
  1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 192" [Official Press Release No. 192] (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 20 March 2018. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. FC Internazionale Milano SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2012 (in Italian)
  3. "Europa League, group stage: Inter's squad list". www.inter.it. F.C. Internazionale Milano. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  4. "Marco Benassi re-signs with Inter until 2017". www.inter.it. F.C. Internazionale Milano. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  5. "D'Ambrosio-Inter ok, al Toro soldi e Benassi". Tuttosport (in Italian). 28 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  6. "UFFICIALE – Benassi è un nuovo giocatore del Torino". torinogranata.it (in Italian). Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  7. "Official: Benassi to Torino". football-italia.net. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  8. "Benassi al Toro". torinofc.it (in Italian). Torino Football Club. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  9. "BROMMAPOJKARNA VS. TORINO 0 – 3". soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  10. Torino F.C. S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2015, PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A. (in Italian)
  11. "Torino, Inter superata alle buste: Benassi ora è tutto granata".
  12. "CO-OWNERSHIP SETTLEMENTS". Inter.it. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  13. Webb, Tom. "Marco Benassi Scores Stunning Van Basten-Esque Volley for Torino". Bleacher Report.
  14. "Benassi si inventa un gol alla Van Basten e fa impazzire il popolo granata – IL BUZZ". 27 September 2015.
  15. "Benassi: "Il gol alla Van Basten? Non ho capito ancora cosa ho fatto..."".
  16. FIORE, STEFANO. "Serie A, Birsa rilancia il Chievo: crisi Torino – Sportmediaset". Sportmediaset.it.
  17. "Torino vs. Fiorentina – 2 October 2016 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  18. "Fiorentina announced Benassi acquisition". it.violachannel.tv (in Italian). 9 August 2017.
  19. "Ufficiale: Marco Benassi è un nuovo centrocampista dell'Hellas Verona". hellasverona.it (in Italian). 12 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  20. "Marco Benassi è un nuovo calciatore azzurro" (in Italian). Empoli. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  21. "MARCO BENASSI NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLA CREMONESE" (in Italian). Cremonese. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  22. "RISOLTO IL CONTRATTO DI MARCO BENASSI" [MARCO BENASSI'S CONTRACT TERMINATED] (in Italian). Fiorentina. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  23. "Marco Benassi". www.uefa.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012.
  24. "STAGE A ROMA DAL 10 AL 12 MARZO: SONO 31 I CONVOCATI DI PRANDELLI". figc.it (in Italian). Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  25. "Under-21 2015 - England-Italy – UEFA.com". uefa.com. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  26. "Benassi e Zappacosta, coro pro-Ventura: "Sarebbe ottimo ct" – Sportmediaset". Sportmediaset.it.
  27. "Rugani in Azzurri reserves". Football Italia. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  28. "Montolivo lascia il ritiro, arriva Benassi – Calcio – RaiSport".
  29. "U21: Italy squad for Euros named". Football Italia. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  30. James Horncastle (28 June 2017). "Italy fall to familiar foe Spain at U21 Euros but there is hope for the future". ESPN FC. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  31. Alessandro Massimo (24 June 2015). "Benassi: "Vietato sbagliare"" (in Italian). UEFA.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  32. Benedetto Ferrara (2 October 2016). "Pagelle: nel Torino Benassi con personalità, nella Fiorentina si salva Sanchez" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  33. Federico Bosio (20 November 2015). "Atalanta-Torino: scende in campo l'azzurro del futuro" (in Italian). Toro News. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  34. Gualtiero Lasala (8 January 2016). "Torino, l'assenza di Acquah spiana la strada a Benassi" (in Italian). Toro News. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  35. "Lukic, il raggio di luce del Torino sta per accendersi" (in Italian). Tutto Sport. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  36. "Vivo x Lei, Borioni risponde: chi saranno i nuovi Buffon, Barzagli, Pirlo e Di Natale?" (in Italian). CalcioMercato.com. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  37. "Amoruso: "Fiorentina matura. Benassi alla Dino Baggio. Vi spiego il rapporto portieri-difensori"" (in Italian). www.violanews.com. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  38. "Il pagellone 2014/2015: Marco Benassi" (in Italian). Toro.it. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  39. Giovanni Battista Terenziani (23 January 2013). "Benassi, Livaja, Longo: l'Inter giovane" (in Italian). CalcioMercato.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  40. "Torino-Sampdoria, torna Benassi: vivo il ballottaggio con Acquah" (in Italian). Toro News. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  41. Marco Benassi at Soccerway
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