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Sergio Floccari – Should Italy’s David Villa Be Called Up Against Brazil?

Sections of the Italian press have been urging Italy coach Marcello Lippi to grant a recall for in-form Bologna striker Marco Di Vaio. Carlo Garganese, however, is desperate for Atalanta star Sergio Floccari to be handed a chance, a late-bloomer who could be destined for the top…

In recent years in Italy there have been a number of late-developers who have gone on to achieve great things with La Nazionale. The two most obvious examples are ex-Palermo pair Luca Toni and Fabio Grosso who, at close to 30, proved to be important protagonists at the 2006 World Cup.

Another player who has the potential to be added to this list is Atalanta’s Sergio Floccari. The 27-year-old is far from a household name, indeed he is a virtual unknown outside the Italian peninsula. Up until the age of almost 23, the frontman had spent almost his entire career in Italy’s fourth division and below, representing Faenza and youth club Mestre.

It was at Rimini where he really started to exhibit his worth, as he led the Emilia-Romagna outfit to successive promotions from Serie C2 to Serie B, helping the club return to the second flight for the first time since the 1970s.

It wasn’t until he was in his 25th year that Floccari had his first taste of Serie A action, as he was snapped up by Messina in January 2006. Despite the Sicilian outfit’s relegation that season, the Calabrian’s classy double against Juventus in a 2-2 draw eventually did enough to convince Atalanta to transport him back to Serie A at the beginning of the last campaign. Floccari had a promising debut season in Bergamo, scoring eight goals in 34 appearances, a figure only bettered by the talismanic Cristiano Doni, as Atalanta finished in eighth position.

I have been an admirer of Floccari for some time now, but it is this term that he has really exploded onto the scene. Atalanta have scored 20 goals in Serie A so far, and Floccari has been responsible for 12 of them, scoring eight times, and providing four assists.

Statistics like this do not lie. However, it is Floccari’s overall play that has really suggested that he has a big career ahead of him. An incredibly skilful and technical player, with strength, personality, a good shot, and a rapid turn of pace – Floccari possesses all the attributes that defenders fear.

As Sergio Stanco, editor of Goal Italia states: “From a technical point of view, he's able to do everything - dribbling, sombrero, assists, and score goals. He also helps his team – him and Doni are a beautiful duo.â€

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