From Bricklayer to Superstar Defender: Federico Gatti's hardworking journey to stardom

The story of Federico Gatti is a story straight out of Hollywood! The 25-year-old center-back went from working in construction to becoming a regular starter for Juventus.

Gatti is from Rivoli, a small town west of Turin where he played football on the daily. He joined Pavarolo at age 17, a local neighborhood team, where he progressed as a football player.

In 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gatti was released as a free agent. The Italian center-back kept working in construction as a part-time job, as no other team would grant him a contract.

Prior to the pandemic, Gatti played for Verbania in 2018 as a semi-pro but would still struggle to make a living off football. He would work morning shifts at the local supermarket and then train heavily in the afternoon.

After Verbania, Gatti leaped into Serie C (Italy's 3rd division) singing for Pro Patria. During his time at Pro Patria, he became a regular starter, putting in some great defensive performances.

Gatti would linger in Italies lower divisions for less than two seasons before he received a call from Fabio Grosso, former Juventus player, and 2006 World Cup Champion. In 2022, Frosinone, an established Serie B team, signed Gatti.

The young center-back's value skyrocketed from $55,000 to $5.5mn in just two years. This caught the attention of major Italian teams like Milan and Juventus who were in the market for defenders.

Giorgio Chiellini was finishing his last season at the 'Veccia Signora' and Juventus was desperately looking for a player that would fit a similar profile. Gatti was their man, and his stats proved him a worthy heir to Chiellini's throne.

Everything was moving fast for Gatti. His ambitious personality would reflect his passion on the pitch. He had one goal: to make a living off football. Nothing motivates more than pure necessity!

"I used to work in the markets to unload boxes of fruits and vegetables. Two years ago I was a bricklayer and installed windows, in the afternoons I trained on mud fields...It was all part of the journey," shared Gatti a few days after signing for Juventus.

The local Turin club paid a total of $5.2mn for Gatti and since then he has become a revelation in Serie A. He scored his first goal against Sporting CP, during the Europa League quarterfinals.

"He is a sponge, absorbs everything, and understands football well. He [Gatti] is still young and has much to learn, but he has the appetite," said Allegri during a post-match conference.

It was Gatti himself that scored the decisive goal to level the first-leg match against Sevilla. He scored a flying header in the 97' minute, which put Juventus ahead in the series.

"I've changed a lot at the club, the fans, and my teammates have all placed a lot of faith in me. I can develop and grow into my full potential here," said Gatti during a Europa League post-match conference.

His story resonates with many Italians. His hard work and determination are exemplary. Gatti is often compared to Moreno Torricelli, an ex-defender who played at Juventus during the 90s.

Much like Gatti, Torricelli faced similar hardships, working low-paying jobs right before Juventus scooped him up from Caratese in Serie D.

Federico Gatti is a true story of determination and self-belief that inspires young footballers who dream of making a living from their passion.