Riccardo Montolivo

Riccardo Montolivo (born 18 January 1985 in Caravaggio, Italy, Province of Bergamo) is an Italy football (soccer). He currently plays for ACF Fiorentina in Italy's Serie A league. He is an elegant and skilled midfielder with a perceptive eye for a pass, a powerful right-footed shot and clever technique.

Club career

Montolivo started his career in Serie B with Atalanta B.C.. At the age of 18, he made his debut in the 2003–04 season. He played 41 matches and scored four goals during the season and helped Atalanta to gain promotion to Serie A.

In his first season in Serie A, he played 32 times and scored three goals. However, his efforts were in vain as Atalanta were relegated back down to Serie B. However, his performances had caught the eye of several higher-profile clubs.

Montolivo moved to ACF Fiorentina in the summer of 2005. Initially Atalanta retained part-ownership of the player but the following summer they relinquished that option as Fiorentina took full ownership.

During the 2006/2007 season Montolivo's first-team chances were limited, partly due to the fact that he was still an inexperienced player and partly because Fiorentina coach Claudio Cesare Prandelli had a relatively stable and reliable squad of players at his disposal. The young man's talents did not go unrecognised though. He became a fixture in Italy's Under-21 team, coached by Pierluigi Casiraghi.

The 2007/2008 season started well straight away for the Viola midfielder, in the first match day 2007-'08 he was as one of the best on the field against Empoli, against which he also scored a splendid goal from a lob. The season follows between ups and downs, but Montolivo confirms himself during the course of the championship as one of the best talents in Italian Football. He has recently attracted attention from Premier League club West Ham United. But he wants a good/big club.

International career

- On 10 October 2006, Montolivo scored the winning goal when Italy beat Spain national under-21 football team 2-1 and qualified for 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

- On 17 October 2007, Montolivo debuted for the Italian national football team in a 2-0 friendly win against South Africa national football team. He was also called up for Italy's provisional squad before the Euro 2008 tournament. However Coach Roberto Donadoni would eventually omit him from the final list of 23.

- Montolivo was summoned by Pierluigi Casiraghi to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Montolivo scored one goal in the tournament.

- Marcello Lippi has expressed his desire to include Montolivo as a member of the squad which will guide Italy to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.