In the latest game against Sassuolo Mattia Tavanti has played his 5th consecutive game as a starter for the U19s, with a win and a clean sheet, the fourth in the last batch of games, to top it all off. “We really longed to shrug off the Roma setback pronto and the win against Sassuolo truly was a godsend. We did well to react quickly, also thanks to that tight-knit attitude of ours, which gave us a much-needed helping hand when facing the hardships the game harboured. After beginning the year with injuries, I’m happy to have finally recovered: I’m through a good patch now, which is a relief. We just have to keep on going”.

Mattia simply bode his time and did the most with the chances he had. A defender born and bred (“aside for a brief stint as a midfielder in my early days, I had always played in the back”), he joined Atalanta in the summer of 2019, after treading the stages of his home region, Tuscany: “I’m native of San Gimignano, where I played until the age of 13 for my hometown team. Before joining Atalanta I also donned the Fiorentina shirt. I was born with the ball in hand and it was my father Andrea who passed his passion for football down to me, despite not having ever played a game. To be fair, I’ve always been a sports buff through and through, but football has always been my first great love. Even though I used to play tennis, and I was also quite the dab-hand according to my teachers and the handful of trophies I won, when I had to choose between tennis and football aged 10 I didn’t have the slightest doubt. And I owe it all to one of my first coaches, Antonio Bruni: a former footballer, who helped me realize that, regardless of how young I was back in the day, football is not just fun but is also a matter of seriousness, determination to achieve your goals”.

Then came Atalanta’s call aged 14. “As I stepped through the Zingonia doors it was love at first sight: I immediately felt at home. And I realized I had come to a place where the person is put at the forefront. Sure, the first six months were no plain sailing. Nonetheless, I’ve lived many unforgettable personal highs: such as the various joined-up training sessions with the first team I took part in, or when I entered Gasperini’s shortlist for the Trofeo Bortolotti game against Eintracht. I will cherish these moments in my heart of hearts. Being able to spar with players you’ve only seen on TV before is not a breathtaking experience per se, but it also gives you food for growth. Everybody welcomed me in the best way and helped me become more comfortable with the new environment: I remember fondly Muriel and his way of living football always with a smile. Given my play style, my first team reference is Scalvini. To think that just a few years back he and Ruggeri were Academy players and now they hog the First Team spotlight is a strong encouragement for all us Youth System players”.

Off the pitch Mattia gives off boy-next-door vibes: ” I fancy spending my spare time with a stroll downtown. When I’m around Bergamo, I try to recreate that calmness that only a small town like San Gimignano could give. Not by chance, I dig listening to reggaeton before hitting the pitch: it helps me focus without getting too tense. To be fair, I always dreamed of being here and now that I am able to do what I love with passion and a smile on my face, all I can do is live it in the best possible way”.