Not only did Dominic Vavassori break the deadlock in the Primavera’s 4-1 away win over Juventus with an absolute stunner, but he also found his scoring league debut on the Vinovo pitch after the brace scored in the Coppa Italia clash against Spal. Despite the new season already well underway, his Whatsapp profile pic, which frames Dominic’s celebration after his brace in the Udinese match that prevented the Primavera’s relegation, lays unmoved till the previous campaign: “Even though I scored my most decisive goal to date in the 90-minute win over Cagliari a few weeks earlier, I really dig that photo and not just for the moment itself, but also because the snapshot also features Palestra, one of my besties on and off the pitch and one of my main pillars of strength, together with other U23s’ players such as De Nipoti, Mallamo, Cisse, Cortinovis and Gyabuaa, over the years and, most recently, when I got injured at the beginning of the season”.
All players who, just like Dominic, come through the Academy: “While I’m now entering my 7th season as a Nerazzurro, I made my footballing debut for Buraghese, a club from a neighbouring town, during the first year of kindergarten; then came the move to Tritium and then, in 2017, Atalanta. After playing as a striker for years, it was coach Bosi, to whom I owe much, who first switched me as a left-wing in a 4-3-3 formation during the Viareggio tournament. And, I have to say, his intuition was right: there I can best express all my skills”.
” Taking on players is like a second nature to me just like going for one-on-ones and dribbling, be it in training or matches. To be fair, I tend to stick to my hunches. The ball is my best friend, we’re like two peas in a pod: and whenever I’m “having a ball”, everything becomes so much easier. Being my father Brazilian and growing up enthralled by the likes of Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, Kakà and, foremost Neymar, always tried to mimic their moves against my friends whilst playing at my town’s oratory. Even though, honestly, my absolute favourite player is Argentinian and is none other than Messi. Training with the first team has been a truly inspirational experience: I was particularly struck by Muriel and Lookman and not for their sheer quality; but, foremost, by how swift their decision-making process is”.
His flair and panache on the pitch give away Dominic’s South American descents: “I guess it’s truly in my blood: my father Luciano, who shares a past as a footballer, passed his passion for football down on me- As a child he was adopted by a family of Ponte San Pietro, in the Bergamo province, hence the surname Vavassori- Grandpa Lino is always by my side, ferrying me to training if needs be and never missing a match. My mother Kamila Maria is Polish, aside from trying to learn her language, I also took my passion for reading after her: I’m a true sci-fi geek, with a penchant for both the Harry Potter and the Star Trek sagas”. Dominic is not the only Vavassori donning the black-and-blue colours, though: “My younger sister Isabel also plays for Female U12s side: she’s born in 2012 and, despite donning the 11 on the shirt just like her brother, she’s left-footed. To this day, dad still drives us to the pitch of the Ornago oratory, our hometown, for a joined session.”
His favourite pastime is hanging out with his old friends. “Like Samuele Magni, who is now playing for Giana Erminio: on matchdays’ eves we chat for hours on end about everything but football, it’s my way to unwind before the match mode kicks in. As for my pregame routine, I dig listening to music -usually throwing in a couple of latin-american tunes amidst the likes of Tedua, Capo Plaza and Sfera Ebbasta, – and then I pray to ask my family to look after me and have fun on the pitch”.
