Niccolò Manfredini

Early career

Born in Ferrara, Emilia–Romagna, Manfredini started his career at hometown club SPAL. In June 2005, he was signed by Tuscany and Serie A club Fiorentina. He was the starting goalkeeper of the club's Primavera under-20 team from 2005–06 to 2006–07; Manfredini finished as the losing side in the round of 16 in the 2006–07 season. In 2007, Manfredini left for Serie D club Carpi. In the next season, he was signed by Lega Pro Seconda Divisione club Gubbio.

Reggiana

In July 2009, he left for Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Reggiana along with Marco Romizi and Lorenzo Morelli for a peppercorn fee of €1,000 each. In the same window, La Viola also signed Matteo Arati (for €400,000) and Maxwell Acosty (for €125,000); it made the deal was a partial cash-plus-player-swap. Manfredini was a backup in the first season for Luca Tomasig. In the second season, Manfredini became the first choice.

Return to Fiorentina

In June 2011, Fiorentina bought back Manfredini (for €215,000) along with Ramzi Aya (for €215,000), Samuele Bettoni (for €500) and Piergiuseppe Maritato (for €100,000); while Arati formally returned to Reggio Emilia (for €180,500) (Romizi and Morelli already returned to Florence in 2010). (Aya also returned to Reggio Emilia in August for €500) The deals made La Viola paid Reggiana €349,500 in net. However, along with Edoardo Pazzagli, his successor in the youth team in 2007, they were unable to sign with another Italian minor team. Manfredini…