Riccardo Saponara

Ravenna

Born in Forlì to parents from Palazzo San Gervasio, Basilicata, Southern Italy, Saponara started his professional career at Ravenna. In January 2009, he was signed by Empoli in a co-ownership deal for €700,000. In June 2010, Saponara was signed by Empoli outright for another €550,000.

Empoli and AC Milan

Originally played as a winger, Empoli manager Maurizio Sarri switched him into a central position behind the strikers in the 2012–13 Serie B season to devastating effect as he grabbed 13 goals and 15 assists in 40 appearances for the club. He led Empoli to the Serie B promotion play-off finals where they lost to Livorno. In January 2013, AC Milan signed the 21-year-old Saponara from Empoli on the condition that he remained at Empoli until the end of the season. Milan paid €3.75 million for his co-ownership on a 4+1⁄2-year contract, which Parma signed Empoli's half for €2.6 million in summer 2013. He played just 218 minutes of Serie A football spread across seven league games, failing to contribute any goals or assists in the 2013–14 season. In June 2014, Milan acquired Parma's half for just €1 million.

Return to Empoli

On 16 January 2015, Saponara returned to Empoli with the formula of the loan with the right of redemption. He made his comeback for the club four days later in Roma - Empoli 2–1 in Coppa Italia. He made comeback in the league ten days later in Empoli's 1–2 defeat to Udinese, opening the scoring with a penalty kick; his first…

Saponara made his debut with the Italy under-21 national team on 8 February 2011, in a 1–0 win over England. He scored his first goal for the under-21 side on 13 April, in a 2–0 win over Russia. Saponara was chosen by former manager Ciro Ferrara to take part in the Toulon Tournament in May 2011, where he appeared in all of Italy's matches, helping the team to win a Bronze medal. He was also elected to take part at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Italy, under manager Devis Mangia, and he scored a goal in Italy's second group match against hosts Israel, in a 4–0 win, which qualified the Italians for the semi-final. Saponara made three appearances throughout the tournament, helping Italy to reach the final, where they were defeated 4–2 by Spain. Overall, between 2011 and 2013, he has collected 22 appearances, scoring three goals for the "azzurrini".

Saponara primarily played as an attacking midfielder, but was also capable of playing on the wing (preferably on the right flank) or as a central midfielder in the mezzala role. His style of play and performances as a youngster during his time in Serie B drew occasional comparisons to Kaká. At the conclusion of the 2020–21 Serie A season, Saponara held the record for the fastest sprint in the league clocked at 36.04 km/h.

As of 30 January 2024