From Juventus academy dismissal to international striker: the journeyman's resilient path
In short: In 2004, a young Gianluca Lapadula was released by Juventus because his schoolwork was suffering. Today, the man known as 'El Bambino' in Peru has traversed the heights of Serie A and the grit of the lower leagues to become a prolific international goalscorer.
Gianluca Lapadula’s career is a masterclass in professional perseverance. Born in Turin in 1990 to an Italian father and a Peruvian mother, his early trajectory was nearly derailed by academic struggles. After being released from the Juventus academy in 2004, he navigated a complex series of moves through the Italian football pyramid, playing for clubs including Pro Vercelli, Parma, and Atletico Roma.
His ascent was marked by remarkable scoring feats in Italy's second tier. During the 2011–12 season, he finished as the top scorer in Group A for Ravenna with 24 goals. He repeated this feat in Serie B, first with Pescara in 2015–16, where he netted 30 goals in 43 appearances, and again with Cagliari in 2022–23, where he scored 21 goals to earn Player of the Season honours.
This prolific form eventually earned him a high-profile €9 million move to AC Milan in 2016. While his club career has seen him move through various clubs like Genoa, Lecce, and Benevento, his international identity remains a point of significant interest. Though he was once called up to the Italian senior squad in 2016, he ultimately chose to represent Peru, making his debut in 2020 and playing a key role in their 2021 Copa América campaign.
Beyond his physical strength and versatility as a striker, Lapadula's career is defined by his ability to find the net in high-pressure moments, from penalty shoot-outs in South American tournaments to decisive playoff goals in Italy.
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