From Taubaté to Como with father Claudio and mother Andreia. He is already a prospect in the Under 17 national team
When Matteo Papaccioli was born, a very young Cesc Fabregas wore the Arsenal shirt and prepared the away match against Sunderland, won two days later with a goal from Theo Walcott on the last day of the Premier League. 9 May 2008: Cesc had just turned 21, he was one of the Gunners’ leading lights and in the meantime in Taubaté, a middle ground between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, a little curl was born into the world who, twenty years later, would steal his keep an eye on Lake Como. The investiture came directly from Fabregas: “Papaccioli has proven to be a talented player with good potential”. Talent and potential, words of a world champion. And Matteo Papaccioli runs fast. At not even 17 years old he has already signed his first professional contract, he plays and scores with the Primavera team (13 appearances and 3 goals) and for a few months he has been carving out his space in the notebook of Massimiliano Favo, coach of the Under 17 national team who next spring he will fly to Albania to defend the European title won in Cyprus a year ago. The contents of the notes? Practically all the characteristics of a modern and complete midfielder, difficult to label and for this reason one of a kind, special and often, for many coaches, essential. He refined his technique on the Brazilian concrete roads, he is still working on his muscles but beware of thinking that he is someone who pulls his leg back. On the contrary. Attack or defend? 51 to 49 for the first, with that one who hides the desire to hang out in the attacking midfield and the habit of scoring. Practically a mini Fabregas and who knows, maybe we’ll see the Spaniard again a little.