Andrea Ranocchia

Andrea Ranocchia (Italian pronunciation: [anˈdrɛa raˈnɔkkja]; born 16 February 1988) is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Italian club Sampdoria on loan from Internazionale.

Club career

Born in Assisi in the province of Perugia, Ranocchia started his career at Perugia then in Arezzo. Ranocchia played for Arezzo's Primavera team in 2005–06 season.

Genoa

In August 2008, Genoa purchased half of the registration rights for €1.55 million and sent him on loan to Bari, rejoining Arezzo coach Antonio Conte, where he won the Serie B Championship, obtaining promotion to Serie A the following season, and forming a promising defensive partnership with fellow emerging Italian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci. On 26 June 2009 Genoa signed him outright for another €2.45 million, and Genoa paid €4 million in total for him within a year.

On 1 July 2010 he moved back to Genoa. After a link with Inter in February 2010, the clubs agreed a deal in June 2010 which involved the transfer of young striker Mattia Destro. The transfer became official on 20 July 2010, which Inter signed half of the registration rights of Ranocchia for €6.5 million and sent Destro on loan to Genoa with option to sign him in co-ownership deal (who later purchased outright for €4.5 million). Ranocchia also loaned back to Genoa for a season.