Riccardo Bonetto, a former left-back, had a journey through Italian football. He grew up in the Juventus youth system but never made a senior appearance for the Bianconeri. His Serie A debut came with Lazio, where he played across two spells. In between, his career included time in Belgium, extensive experience in Serie C and B with Empoli, and another top-flight stint with Udinese before returning to Lazio. He finished his playing days in lower leagues and then transitioned into coaching, starting with the youth teams at Istrana.
Speaking on RBN Cafè as a former player for both upcoming opponents, Bonetto shared insights from his development years. “I had some excellent mentors at Juventus,” he recalled, “particularly Salvatore Iacolino, who was also a significant figure for Gasperini. Witnessing the vulnerability and the intense drive to improve during those youth academy years provides incredibly valuable stories.”
He elaborated on the challenges: “When you`re struggling and far from home, especially back then without social media or even regular phone access – we used tokens for calls – and things didn`t go well on a Sunday, you were just alone in your room at 15. In those moments, you feel a mix of hate and love for what you`re doing. But you learn that *everything* you experience will serve you later, in your career and in life.”
“You`re constantly under scrutiny. One day you feel on top of the world, the next you might be sidelined, even at a club like Juve. Character is absolutely essential for anyone who wants to make this career work. I feel content with what I achieved; it required struggle, but also brought joy. I had that inner drive, that `fire inside,` even when doubted.”
“If there were a ranking of players who internally enjoyed their careers the most, I believe I`d be near the top. It`s natural to want more when things are going well, and that`s valid, but sometimes it`s important to just appreciate being happy with what you have.”
Turning his attention to the current Juventus striker, Dusan Vlahovic, Bonetto commented, “Fans might assume money solves everything, but for a striker, goals are currency; if he doesn`t score, he feels it deeply. However, if he gives his absolute everything on the pitch, it truly doesn`t matter if he doesn`t find the net in every single game. The key is that his effort isn`t superficial.”