Federico Gatti: Player Who Scored Winner for Juventus vs Sporting Once Worked as a Brick Layer

• As far as inspirational football stories go, nothing comes close to Federico Gatti’s tale
• Gatti was the match-winner for Juventus against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League on Thursday, April 13
• The Italian used to be a bricklayer before his meteoric rise in football

Federico Gatti was the name on Juventus fans’ mouths on Thursday, April 14 thanks to his heroics in the Europa League against Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon.

The Italian defender’s story is nothing short of inspirational as his rise to the pinnacle of football is the stuff of dreams.

On Thursday, he rose highest to head home the only game of the match in the 73rd minute as Juventus put one foot in the Europa League semis.

Gatti’s Juventus have now kept four clean sheets in the Europa League, and are looking really solid at the back, a trend that has proven to be the difference between a win and draw for Massimiliano Allegri’s side.

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Brick layer

Born in 1998, Gatti always had the potential to rise up the football ranks and had stints with  Chieri, Torino and Alessandria as a child.

His father, who was a sporting director, lost his job and at the age of 17, Gatti had to fend for himself by working as a bricklayer and window manufacturer. His main job entailed repairing roofs and at times, he would work for 10 hours a day.

As recently as in 2019, Gatti was playing non-league football with Verbania, and helped the side gain promotion to the fourth tier. As reported on The Mirror, he eventually then joined Pro Patria in Serie C.

In 2021, he joined Serie B side Frosinone for a fee of 250,000 Euros, before Juventus snapped up his services.

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Due to intense competition in the Juventus defence, Bianconeri loaned him back to Frosinone for further development, and since then, he has established himself as a top centre-back.

In fact, his performances have been so crisp that he earned a call-up in Roberto Mancini’s Italy team.

Wojciech Szczesny suffers heart scare

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on Wojciech Szczesny’s heart scare during the game against Sporting CP.

The goalkeeper called for substitution after feeling chest pain and was seen holding his chest and in tears as he walked off the pitch with the thought he was in serious danger.

Szczesny had an increased heart rate and shortness of breath before second-choice goalkeeper Mattia Perin replaced him.