ARMENIAN MATTEO DARMIAN PLAYING FOR ITALY AT WORLD CUP 2014
13:28 16.06.2014
Italian defender Matteo Darmian is of Armenian descent. Of Armenian
extraction but born in the northern Italian town of Legnano, he
played his youth football for AC Milan before making his first-team
debut in a Coppa Italia match in November 2006, according to FIFA’s
official website
A maiden Serie A appearance followed the very next season against
Udinese, but like many other young Italian talents Darmian was forced
to go on his travels in search of first-team football, spending time
at Padova, Torino and Palermo but playing only 15 top-flight games
up to 2012.
His fortunes changed when Torino decided to sign him on a permanent
deal. Earning a regular starting place as the 2012/13 season got under
way, he established himself as one of the best full-backs in Serie A.
A first choice also at every age level for Italy, Darmian caught the
eye of Cesare Prandelli during another fine season with the Turin club
and was invited to a national team training camp in March 2014, the
prelude to his appearance in the coach’s 23-man list for Brazil 2014.