Stefano Sensi (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsteːfano ˈsɛnsi]; born 5 August 1995) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Monza.
 Sensi playing for Inter Milan in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 August 1995[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Urbino, Italy[1] | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Monza | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2007 | Urbania | ||
| 2007–2010 | Rimini | ||
| 2010–2013 | Cesena | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Cesena | 17 | (3) |
| 2013–2015 | → San Marino (loan) | 59 | (10) |
| 2016–2020 | Sassuolo | 61 | (5) |
| 2016 | → Cesena (loan) | 14 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | → Inter Milan (loan) | 12 | (3) |
| 2020–2024 | Inter Milan | 31 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Sampdoria (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | → Monza (loan) | 28 | (3) |
| 2024– | Monza | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012 | Italy U17[3] | 1 | (1) |
| 2015 | Italy U20[4][nb 1] | 3 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Italy | 9 | (3) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 March 2022 | |||
Sensi began his career with Italian side Cesena in 2013, and was subsequently loaned out to San Marino for two seasons before returning to the club. He joined Sassuolo in January 2016, and was promptly loaned out to Cesena for the remainder of the season. He became a Sassuolo player in summer 2016. Sensi was loaned out to Inter Milan in summer 2019, and joined them on a permanent basis in the following year. Inter loaned him out to Sampdoria and Monza in 2022, with the latter team signing him on a permanent transfer in 2024.
Club career
editYouth career
editBorn in Urbino in the Marche, Sensi started to play football with the local team Urbania at the age of six. During this time at the club, he played with his older brother.[6] While at Urbania, he was spotted by a Rimini scout, joining the youth team in 2007. He spent three years in Rimini, until the end of the 2009–10 season when the club bankrupted, releasing all the players. Sensi was taken by the youth academy of the local rivals Cesena.[7]
Cesena
editSensi began his senior career with Cesena. He was first included in a matchday squad for their Coppa Italia fourth-round game on 28 November 2012, remaining unused in a 3–1 loss to Atalanta at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.[8]
On 23 July 2013, he was one of a quintet of Cesena players who moved to San Marino, in his case a loan with the option of co-ownership.[9] He made his professional debut on 8 September, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione loss away to Reggiana.[10] A week later he scored his first goal, finishing from the edge of the penalty area to conclude a 2–0 win over Como at the Stadio Olimpico.[11] On 16 March 2014, he was one of three Titani players sent off in a 2–0 defeat at Cremonese.[12] He played 26 games in his first professional season, scoring another goal in the last game, a 2–2 home draw with Vicenza on 4 May.[13]
San Marino did not take up the option to sign Sensi permanently, but on 7 July 2014, he went to the club for a second loan.[14] In his second match of the season, on 8 September, he was sent off in added time at the end of a 2–1 loss at Pontedera.[15] He played 33 games in a season which ended with relegation to Serie D, scoring eight goals, including two in a 3–2 home win over L'Aquila on 14 February 2015, in which he was again sent off at the end.[16]
Sensi made his Cesena debut on 20 August 2015, playing the entirety of their 4–1 win at Catania in the third round of the Coppa Italia.[17] On 5 September, he made his league debut, as the team won 2–0 against Brescia at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi in the first game of the season.[18] On 3 October he scored from a penalty as Cesena defeated Livorno 1–0.[19]
Sassuolo
editOn 13 January 2016, Sensi was signed by Serie A club Sassuolo.[20] He would spend the first 6 months of the contract on loan with Cesena.[21] He returned in Sassuolo in July 2016 ahead of 2016–17 season, making his Serie A debut by playing full 90 minutes in the opening championship match against Palermo, which ended in a 1–0 away win.[22] His first top flight goal came later in October 2016 in a 2–1 home win over newly promoted side Crotone.[23] Sensi concluded his first season at the Mapei Stadium by playing 19 matches in all competitions, scoring only once. In the 2017–18 season, he scored two goals in 17 league appearances.[24] Sensi was a key player in the 2018–19 season under manager Roberto De Zerbi, making 30 appearances between league and cup, netting twice in the process.[25]
Inter Milan
editOn 2 July 2019, Inter Milan officially announced that Stefano Sensi had been signed from Sassuolo on an initial paid loan deal, with an option to buy at the end of the season. The total cost of the operation is expected to reach €25 million.[26] Sensi made his club debut on 26 August in a 4–0 home win against Lecce, in Inter's opening match of the 2019–20 Serie A season; he marked the occasion by scoring a goal, but later came off in the second half for Roberto Gagliardini.[27][28][29] Sensi made his Champions League debut on 17 September in a 1–1 home draw against Slavia Prague; he contributed to Inter's injury-time equaliser, as his free kick struck the cross-bar, and was subsequently turned in by Nicolò Barella to tie the game.[30][31] Starting from January, he picked a series of injuries that effectively ruled him out of the latter half of the 2019–20 season.[32]
On 31 August 2020, Inter exercised the buyout clause in his contract and Sensi signed a four-year deal with the club.[33]
Loan to Sampdoria
editOn 29 January 2022, Sensi moved on loan to Sampdoria.[34]
Loan to Monza
editOn 2 July 2022, Sensi joined newly-promoted Serie A side Monza on a one-year loan.[35] He made his debut on 8 August, as a substitute in a 3–2 Coppa Italia win against Frosinone.[36] Sensi's first goal for the biancorossi came on 11 September, scoring from a direct free kick against Lecce. The match eventually finished in a 1–1 draw, which gave Monza their first-ever Serie A point.[37]
Monza
editAfter one season at Inter, where he won the 2023–24 Serie A title, Sensi returned to Monza on a permanent transfer on 8 August 2024, signing a one-year contract until 30 June 2025.[38]
International career
editSensi has represented Italy at youth level, making one appearance for the under-17 side, and making his debut for the under-20 side in a 2–2 draw against Poland on 7 October 2015.[4]
On 20 November 2018, he made his debut with the Italy senior team, playing as a starter in a 1–0 friendly victory over the United States, held in Genk.[39] On 26 March 2019, Sensi scored his first goal for the national team in a 6–0 home win over Liechtenstein in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match.[40]
In June 2021, he was initially included in Italy's final 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini;[41] however, he was later ruled out of the tournament after sustaining an injury during training, and Matteo Pessina was called up to the tournament in his place.[42]
Style of play
editA former offensive or central midfielder, with noted vision, good technique, and an eye for goal, Sensi now usually functions in a defensive or creative midfield role for his team. He often acts as a deep-lying playmaker in front of the back-line, due to his ball control, range of distribution, and long passing ability with both feet in spite of being naturally right-footed, which allows him to create chances for teammates; he is also capable of playing in several other midfield and offensive positions, and has been deployed as a winger, as a mezzala, or as a supporting forward. Already regarded as one of the most promising young Italian footballers of his generation, Sensi has drawn the attention of larger clubs, and his playing style, mobility, small stature, and low centre of gravity have drawn comparisons with Marco Verratti, as well as Andrea Pirlo, although he has personally stated that his main influence is Spanish playmaker Xavi. Sensi has also been praised by Italy manager Roberto Mancini, who described him as: "...good, technically gifted, and fast", also noting that "...he has character." In spite of his slender build, which makes him ineffective at winning more physical challenges for the ball, he is also effective defensively due to his tactical intelligence and interpretation of space.[2][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] Despite his ability, however, he has often struggled with injuries throughout his career.[51]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 9 August 2024[52]
| Club | Season | League | Coppa Italia | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| San Marino (loan) | 2013–14 | Lega Pro | 26 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15 | 33 | 8 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 35 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 59 | 10 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 63 | 11 | ||||
| Cesena | 2015–16 | Serie B | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 33 | 3 | |
| Sassuolo | 2016–17 | Serie A | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | |
| 2017–18 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 2 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 61 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 68 | 5 | |||
| Inter Milan (loan) | 2019–20 | Serie A | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 19 | 3 | |
| Inter Milan | 2020–21 | Serie A | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 43 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 4 | ||
| Sampdoria (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie A | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| Monza (loan) | 2022–23 | Serie A | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 3 | ||
| Monza | 2024–25 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 233 | 25 | 15 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 262 | 27 | ||
International
edit- As of match played 29 March 2022[53]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 3 | |
- Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sensi goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 March 2019 | Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy |  Liechtenstein |
1–0 | 6–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 2 | 4 September 2020 | Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A |
| 3 | 31 March 2021 | LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania |  Lithuania |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
editInter Milan
Notes
edit- ^ The game against Switzerland[5] was not recorded in the FIGC's database.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Stefano Sensi" (in Italian). Eurosport. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ a b Francesco Oddi (18 November 2015). "Parla Sensi, mr 10 milioni: "Xavi l'idolo. Io erede di Verratti? La statura è quella"" [Sensi, Mr 10 million, says: "Xavi si my idol. Me, Verratti's heir? I'm his height"] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ "Stefano Sensi". FIGC U17 profile (in Italian). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Stefano Sensi". FIGC U20 profile (in Italian). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Statistiche e risultati" (in Italian). Swiss Football Association. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Stefano Sensi, dall'Urbania alla serie A: "Un campetto vicino casa e gli amici la mia fortuna"". uniurb.it (in Italian). 17 February 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Sensi, il nuovo Verratti: "Voglio giocare con lui: conta la testa, non l'altezza"". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan: RCS MediaGroup. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "L'Atalanta supera il Cesena 3-1" [Atalanta defeat Cesena 3-1]. L'Eco di Bergamo (in Italian). 28 November 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Il San Marino prende Del Piero (e Cicarevic)" [San Marino loan in Del Piero (and Cicarevic)]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 23 July 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Reggiana, vittoria sudata coi baby del San Marino" [Reggiana, tough victory with San Marino's babies]. Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 8 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "San Marino-Como 2-0". La Provincia (in Italian). 16 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Cremonese - San Marino 2 - 0" (in Italian). SMTV. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "San Marino–Vicenza 2-2" (in Italian). SMTV. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Calcio: San Marino, torna Sensi e dal Cesena arriva anche Bangoura" [Calcio: San Marino, Sensi returns and Bangoura also arrives from Cesena]. Alta Rimini (in Italian). 7 July 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ Lazzerini, Lorenzo (9 September 2014). "Pontedera-San Marino 2-1". Pisa Today (in Italian). Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Calcio, grandi emozioni tra San Marino e L'Aquila: finisce 3-2, Sensi show" [Football, great emotions between San Marino and L'Aquila: finishes 3-2, the Sensi show]. Alta Rimini (in Italian). 14 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Coppa Italia, Catania fuori: il Cesena vince (4 – 1) e passa il turno" [Coppa Italia: Cesena win (4-1) and pass into the next round] (in Italian). Si 24. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Il Brescia parte male con un ko 2-0 a Cesena" [Brescia start badly with a 2-0 ko at Cesena]. Giornale di Brescia (in Italian). 6 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "CALCIO, CESENA: Sensi di rigore, sorpasso sul Livorno e primo posto" (in Italian). Tele Romagna. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "Stefano Sensi ceduto al Sassuolo" (in Italian). A.C. Cesena. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ "Calciomercato: ingaggiato Stefano Sensi e girato in prestito al Cesena" (in Italian). U.S. Sassuolo Calcio. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ "Palermo 0-1 Sassuolo". Sky Sports. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Sassuolo vs. Crotone 2 – 1". Soccerway. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Stefano Sensi in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Stefano Sensi in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "OFFICIAL: Stefano Sensi joins Inter on loan with option to buy". www.calciomercato.com. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ Cotugno, Vladimiro (26 August 2019). "Inter-Lecce 4-0: Brozovic, Sensi, Lukaku e Candreva, quanti sorrisi per Conte". Il Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Internazionale vs. Lecce 4 – 0". Soccerway. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Inter news, Sensi: "Ora ho la testa solo sul calcio, errori sono serviti. Conte il top"". sport.sky.it (in Italian). 15 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Inter Milan 1–1 Slavia Prague". BBC Sport. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ Laurence, Martin (17 September 2019). "Ten exciting Champions League debutants to watch this week". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Inter, another muscle injury for Sensi: here are his conditions". News1. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Report: Sensi to sign four-year deal at Inter". Football-Italia. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Sensi è blucerchiato: acquisito dall'Inter a titolo temporaneo" (Press release) (in Italian). Sampdoria. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Colpo a centrocampo: Sensi è del Monza - Associazione Calcio Monza S.p.A." www.acmonza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ Digital, Icona (7 August 2022). "Il Monza vince con il Frosinone, ma che brivido! Chance per Sensi e non solo". Inter-News (in Italian). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Magia di Sensi: a Lecce arriva il primo punto in Serie A - Associazione Calcio Monza S.p.A." www.acmonza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ "Bentornato Stefano Sensi - Associazione Calcio Monza S.p.A." www.acmonza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Politano breaks the ice for Italy". Football Italia. 20 November 2018.
- ^ "Euro 2020: Italy hit Liechtenstein for six". Football Italia. 26 March 2019.
- ^ "Mancini names uncapped striker Raspadori in final Italy Euro 2020 squad". Reuters. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Bettoni, Lorenzo (3 June 2021). "Italy: Injured Sensi out of Euro 2020". Football Italia. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Matteo Dalla Vite (16 November 2015). "Inter, Mancini promuove Sensi: "Bravo, tecnico, veloce e di personalità"" [Inter, Mancini promotes Sensi: "Good, technical, fast and has character"] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ Giovanni Capuano (17 November 2015). "Chi è Stefano Sensi, il nuovo Verratti che fa impazzire le big" [Who is Stefano Sensi, the new Verratti who is driving larger clubs crazy] (in Italian). Panorama. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ Blair Newman; Luca Hodges-Ramon; Richard Hall; Franco Ficetola; Mark Neale; Emmet Gates (24 January 2017). "The 50 best young footballers in Italy". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ "Sassuolo, Sensi confessa l'emozione. "Grande passo, mi farò trovare pronto"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ Marco Rossi (10 October 2012). "I MATURANDI - Stefano Sensi" (in Italian). TuttoCesena.it. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ Luca Di Leonardo (9 July 2016). "Fantacalcio, Oggi ti presento...STEFANO SENSI" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ Daniele Triolo (21 November 2015). "PM – Milan forte su Sensi, la Juventus si defila" (in Italian). www.pianetamilan.it. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Pandey, Kaustubh (10 October 2019). "Italy's midfield renaissance". Football Italia. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ "New muscular injury for Sensi". www.football-italia.net. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ Stefano Sensi at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ a b Stefano Sensi FIGC Italy profile (in Italian)
- ^ "Inter end Juventus' Serie A dominance with first title in 11 years". ESPN. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ "Internazionale seal historic 20th Serie A title with derby victory over Milan". The Guardian. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "L'INTER VINCE LA EA SPORTS FC SUPERCUP!" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
External links
edit- Profile at A.C. Monza (in Italian)
- Stefano Sensi at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)