Robert Acquafresca

Infobox Football biography
playername = Robert Acquafresca


fullname = Robert Acquafresca
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|9|11
cityofbirth = Turin
countryofbirth = Italy
height = height|m=1.84
position = Striker
currentclub = Cagliari
clubnumber = 9
youthyears = 1993–2005
youthclubs = Torino
years = 2005–2007 2007–2008 2008- 2008-2009
clubs = Treviso Cagliari Internazionale
→ Cagliari (loan)
caps(goals) = 43 (11) 32 (10) 1 (0)
nationalyears = 2004 2004-2005 2005 2006-2007 2007–
nationalteam = Italy U-17 Italy U-18 Italy U-19 Italy U-20 Italy U-21
nationalcaps(goals) = 02 0(0) 05 0(2) 03 0(0) 04 0(1) 13 0(6)
pcupdate = May 18 2008
ntupdate = August 16 2008

Robert Acquafresca (born September 11 1987 in Turin) is an Italian footballer with half Polish descent. He currently plays for Cagliari.

Club career

Born in Turin to an Italian father and a Polish mother, but residing in Alpignano, Acquafresca entered the Torino youth system at the age of 6. [http://www.tuttomercatoweb.it/index.php?action=read&id=63101 TUTTO MERCATO WEB - Robert Acquafresca, il bomber che viaggia in Ypsilon ] ] In the 2004-05 Campionato Primavera, he played 14 games and scored two goals for the "granata".

In summer 2005, Torino was promoted back in Serie A; however, the FIGC, the governing body of Italian football, expelled Torino from Serie A, due to club's financial problems, with the consequent free release of all of their players.

He was signed by Internazionale, who loaned him to Treviso (also in co-ownership deal), thus partnering former Torino teammate Pinga.

He made eight Serie A appearances in 2005-06 season. As part of the co-ownership deal, Acquafresca remained in Treviso for the 2006-07 Serie B season and scored 11 goals in 35 appearances.

Acquafresca is rated as one of Italy's future prospects and his pace on the ball is lightning and finishing inside the box is cool and calm for such a young player.

In summer 2007, Inter bought the remaining half of the co-ownership deal from Treviso.

He was involved in David Suazo transfer, which saw Acquafresca move to Cagliari on a co-ownership deal. He has played 32 games and scored ten goals for Cagliari.

On 25th June 2008 it was confirmed that Inter had bought Cagliari's 100% of Acquafresca, making them his sole club, however he will be loaned back to Cagliari for the 2008–09 season.

On 14th July 2008 he revealed that he dreams of wearing the Inter shirt one day. He also thanked Cagliari for letting him grow as a football player so that he one day could fulfill his Inter dream. [cite news |url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul14m.html |publisher=Channel4 |language=English |title=Acquafresca's Olympic joy |accessdate=2008-07-14 |date=2008-07-14 ]

International career

Acquafresca has been capped for Italian U-17s, U18s, U19s and more recently the Under-21 side, making his debut in a qualifying match against Albania on June 1 2007. Also, Polish Football Federation, together with national coach Leo Beenhakker, have been trying to convince him to play for Poland. Acquafresca, who speaks Polish, in an interview given to Gazeta Wyborcza (March 14, 2008) said that he did not know what to do and that he would make the decision in the near future . [http://www.sport.pl/pilka/1,88822,5025786.html Acquafresca na Euro? Polacy chcą szybkiej decyzji napastnika z Serie A ] ] . On March 18, he finally opted to refuse the Polish Football Federation offer, and instead confirming his choice to represent Italy at international level. . [cite news |url=http://www.raisport.rai.it/sportarticolo/0,10719,91719,00.html |publisher=RAI Sport |language=Italian |title=Under21: Acquafresca rimane azzurro |accessdate=2008-03-19 |date=2008-03-18 ]

References