Mattia Destro

Youth teams

Destro has been capped for the Azzurrini at almost every level, from under-16 to under-21, except the under-20 team. Destro received his first call-up in 2005 Christmas to a training camp. Destro scored more than one goal in average for the Italian U19 team, and scored 10 out of his first 11 games. He failed to score, in any of the final tournament's matches. Destro made his debut for the Italy under-16 team in the international Val-de-Marne tournament. He was the member of under-17 team in 2008 Euro qualification along with then-Inter teammates Davide Santon, Luca Caldirola, and Michele Rigione,) scoring one goal in two appearances. Destro started all three matches of the elite qualification and scored one goal. He was also called up to the 2008 Minsk under-17 International Tournament where he scored a goal in a 1–1 draw with Moldova and a goal in the 3–0 win against Belarus. Eventually the Azzurrini lost 0–1 to Russia (line-up unavailable) and finished third after winning 1–0 against Belgium. (line-up unavailable). On 17 December 2008, Destro scored a goal in his under-19 debut, a 3–1 win against Romania. Destro scored the only goal in the following match in March 2009, a 1–0 defeat of Norway. He also capped once for the Italian under-18 team in January 2009, scoring a goal in the 3–0 win over Denmark. Due to the early exit of Italy under-19 team in the 2009 season, the Italy under-18 team (players born 1991) was de facto the same team as under-19 (also…

Destro is a quick striker with good technique and an ability to play off of his teammates, which enables him to participate in the build-up of plays. He is an accurate finisher, known for his anticipation, as well as his ability to make attacking runs into the area and subsequently shoot first time.

Youth career

Destro began his career with hometown club Ascoli. In the 2004–05 season, he played in the Giovanissimi Nazionali squad, while his father Flavio was coaching the Allievi Nazionali team. In mid-2005, he joined Inter Milan's youth system. Destro was the top-scorer of the Giovanissimi Nazionali team in the 2005–06 season, the second top-scorer of the Allievi Nazionali team in the 2006–07 season (behind Mario Balotelli), and the second top-scorer of the Primavera team in the 2008–09 season (behind Aiman Napoli). Destro won the league with the Allievi Nazionali team in 2008, and also played for the Primavera team – the senior youth team, scoring four goals in the league group stage; 1 in Primavera league playoff, winning 2008 Torneo di Viareggio and losing to Sampdoria in the final of the Primavera League. Destro scored 18 goals in the 2009–10 Campionato Nazionale Primavera Group Stage and played a few club friendly matches for the first team. Destro won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League despite not being used in any of the matches — he had been included in the Champions League list as one of the under-21 youth products in the B list since the 2008–09 edition of the tournament.

Genoa

In June 2010, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Inter Milan agreed a deal with Genoa to sign centre-back Andrea Ranocchia and that Destro was part of the exchange deal. The transfer became official on 20 July 2010, when Genoa purchased a preferential option to sign…

Destro is the son of former Italian footballer Flavio Destro. On 1 September 2014, he married model girlfriend Ludovica Caramis. In September 2020 he tested positive for COVID-19.