Federico Bernardeschi

Early career

Bernardeschi began playing football at age six with Atletico Carrara. A year later he transferred to Ponzano, a football school of Empoli, before arriving at Fiorentina, who assigned him to the "Pulcini" age group at the age of nine in 2003. After passing through the ranks of the Fiorentina youth system, he spent the 2013–14 season on loan at Crotone in Serie B. He made his professional debut at 19 years old, on 8 September 2013 against Pescara, when he entered the field after 75 minutes, replacing Soufiane Bidaoui. At the end of the season Bernareschi scored 12 goals in 39 appearances and Crotone exercised the option to acquire half the player's contract in co-ownership. In 2019, Bernardeschi revealed that he used to struggle with heart problems at around the age of 16.

Fiorentina

On 20 June 2014, Fiorentina officially redeemed Crotone's half of Bernardeschi's contract, and he was inserted into the first team under the direction of Vincenzo Montella. During the 2014–15 season he obtained 10 appearances and three goals in all competitions, partially hampered by a fracture to his ankle which kept him out from November 2014. He made his Serie A debut on 14 September 2014, at the age of 20, coming off the bench in the 57th minute of a 0–0 home draw against Genoa. Four days later, he made his debut in European debut in a 3–0 home win over Guingamp in the Europa League, in which he also scored his first goal for the club. After returning to the…

Youth

On 5 March 2014, he made his debut with the Italy under-21, in a Euro 2015 qualifying match against Northern Ireland. He took part at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship under manager Luigi Di Biagio. In June 2017, he was included in the Italy under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Di Biagio. In Italy's final group match on 24 June, Bernardeschi score the only goal in a 1–0 win over eventual champions Germany, which allowed Italy to advanced to the semi-finals of the competition. Italy were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals on 27 June, following a 3–1 defeat, with Bernardeschi scoring Italy's temporary equaliser. He was named to the team of the tournament for his performances.

Senior

From 10 to 12 March 2014, Bernardeschi was called up to the senior national team by coach Cesare Prandelli as part of an internship to evaluate young players ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, confirmed on the next meeting between 14 and 15 April. Bernardeschi received his first official call up to the Italy senior squad by manager Antonio Conte in March 2016 for friendlies against Spain and Germany. He made his international debut for Italy on 24 March, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Spain, and was involved in Lorenzo Insigne's goal. On 31 May, he was named to Conte's 23-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He made his only appearance of the tournament on 22 June, in Italy's final group match, which…

A quick, strong, creative, technically gifted, and hard-working player, with a good positional sense and an eye for goal, Bernardeschi was regarded as one of Italy's most exciting and talented prospects. A predominantly left-footed player, known in particular for his pace, agility, and dribbling ability, as well as his powerful and accurate striking ability from outside the area, as well as his ability to make late attacking runs into the box. His preferred role is as a right winger or outside forward in a 4–3–3 formation, a position which allows him to beat opponents, cut into the centre, and either shoot towards goal or link-up with midfielders and create chances for teammates with his stronger left foot; he is also capable of playing on the left flank. Although he often serves as a link between the forwards and midfielders, due to his tactical versatility, intelligence, stamina, vision and defensive work-rate, as well as his technical, athletic, and physical attributes, he is also capable of playing in several other positions, and has been deployed as a second striker or inside forward, as an attacking midfielder, in a central role as a classic number 10 playmaker behind the forwards (known as the trequartista role, in Italian), in particular under his Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri, in a deeper midfield role as an offensive-minded central midfielder (known as the mezzala role, in Italian), further up the pitch as an outright forward, as a false 9, or even as a wide…

In May 2019, Bernardeschi's partner Veronica Ciardi gave birth to their daughter named Deva. In May 2021, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Lena. On 13 July 2021, the day of Veronica's birthday, the couple got married, two days after Italy's Euro 2020 triumph. The marriage took place in the Carrara Cathedral, in Bernardeschi's city of birth.