Luca Antei

Luca Antei

Personal information
Date of birth	(1992-04-19) 19 April 1992
Place of birth	Rome, Italy
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Sassuolo
Number	5
Youth career
	Roma
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2013	Roma	0	(0)
2011–2012	→ Grosseto (loan)	21	(1)
2013–	Sassuolo	37	(0)
International career‡
2011	Italy U19	1	(0)
2013	Italy U20	2	(2)
2011–2015	Italy U21	11	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 May 2016 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2014

Luca Antei (born 19 April 1992) is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Sassuolo.

Club career

Roma

He began his career with Serie A club Roma. Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Antei was training with the club's first-team and he was praised by Walter Sabatini, Roma's director of football, who said he was "growing exponentially" as a player. Serie B side Grosseto announced that they had signed Antei on loan at the end of the transfer window in August 2011. The club also had an option to sign him outright. Having won the Campionato Nazionale Primavera the previous season, the club allowed him to leave temporarily to gain experience. He made his debut for Grosseto on 1 October in a 3–3 draw with Ascoli, replacing Samuele Olivi as a substitute. On 1 June 2012 he had an operation on his knee (anterior cruciate ligament). In June 2012 Roma paid Grosseto €100,000 as counter-option.

Sassuolo

In 2013 Antei was signed by U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, initially in a temporary deal, with an option to sign 50% registration rights. On 1 July 2013 Sassuolo signed Antei in a co-ownership deal for €500,000. The last 50% registration rights of Antei was purchased on 25 June 2015.

International career

He received his first call-up to the Italy under-21 team, managed by Ciro Ferrara, in August 2011 for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifier against Hungary in September. He made his debut the following month in a 7–2 win against Liechtenstein on 6 October.