Nicola Bagnolini’s debut

Born on March 14, 2004 in Cesena (FC), Bagnolini is a goalkeeper, and joined the Due Torri as a free agent during the 2018/19 summer transfer window. From then, he joined up with Francesco Morara’s Under-15 side, playing the first match of the tournament against Atalanta.

In the following season, he was part of the side that won the Helvetia International Cup, while with Denis Biavati’s Under-16 side. He featured in 10 out of the 19 games, which was brought to an abrupt end in February due to Covid: he conceded 17 goals, recording two cleans sheets in the process.

Last season, he was promoted to third-choice goalkeeper of Luciano Zauri’s Primavera, but never made his debut; after featuring in two trial matches with Luca Vigiani’s Under-17 team, he played a massive part in his side’s success in the quarter-finals of the Scudetto against Benevento (2-1) and also in the following round against Genoa, when the Rossoblù were knocked out (1-3).

Regarded as an exciting, young prospect, the same coach, Vigiani promoted him as one of the many class of 2004 to feature in the Primavera 1 that has just ended. In fact, he played the entirety of 32 games, conceding 46 goals, but mustering 10 clean sheets: 6 of which came in the team’s last 8 victories.

Following the meeting in Pinzolo, coach Mihajlovic made hime one of nine first team debutants, giving him his Serie A debut today, away to Genoa.

Here’s what Daniele Corazza, Head of the Youth Sector had to say: “I decided to bring him to Bologna so that we could begin to train him, since we were able to see lots of promising qualities, even though we were well resourced in his position. The first year he struggled, but he showed super application and absorbed the coaches’ advice well, which is what has brought him to where he is today. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the league and given his young age, I think he is worthy of a national team call-up. He always applies himself and has a great desire to train. Now he just has to continue in this fashion and show more consistency. I am delighted that he made his debut seeing as I have followed his entire career path thus far: I know his family well, in particular his grandfather, who’s his biggest fan. When we signed the first professional contract, I wanted to highlight the presence of his grandfather because in the early years, when Nicola was not yet here in boarding school, it was so important to present him with every opportunity to train with us by travelling to and from Savignano.”