Matteo Ruggeri, born on the 11th of July 2002 in Italy, is a defender who primarily plies his trade as a left back for Atalanta in the Serie A. Standing at a little under six feet (1.79m) and tipping the scales at 10st 12lb (69kg), Ruggeri wears the highly symbolic number 22 shirt.
At just 22 years old, Ruggeri's current market value has been evaluated at around £17m (Transfermarkt). His contract with Atalanta runs until the 30th of June 2028, giving him more than enough time to establish a legacy with the club.
Fresh-faced and eager, Ruggeri joined Atalanta's ranks back in July 2018. He went on to make his first team debut in the 2020 - 2021 season, stepping out onto the grass for six league matches. This marked the beginnings of his upward trajectory, with Ruggeri subsequently making 15 first team appearances in the following 2022 - 2023 season. His presence on the pitch increased exponentially in the 2023 - 2024 season, as he participated in a whopping 34 league matches for Atalanta.
The summer of 2021 saw Ruggeri embark on a short loan spell with Salernitana in Serie B. Despite a change of scenery, his form did not falter, and he racked up 14 first team league appearances for his temporarily adopted side during the 2021 - 2022 season. Upon the completion of his loan, Ruggeri was welcomed back to Atalanta in June 2022, where he hit the ground running, rapidly increasing his match count throughout the following seasons.
In addition to his league exploits, Ruggeri has tested his mettle in European competition. In the 2023 - 2024 Europa League, he managed to notch a couple of goals in ten starts, followed by an appearance in the 2024 - 2025 UEFA Super Cup. He also featured in the 2024 - 2025 Champions League, with one start and subsequent substitute appearance to his name.
