Nine games for Squadra Azzurra
©IMAGO
Vincenzo Grifo from SC Freiburg has played nine international matches for the Italian national team. The 32-year-old has not yet played as a professional in his parents’ home country, but he can imagine it.
The Pforzheim native has been playing in Freiburg again since 2019, after being active for the sports club from 2015 to 2017. With 70 goals, Grifo is Freiburg’s top goalscorer in the Bundesliga and he is on the verge of setting a new record in the club’s history across all competitions. “I feel very comfortable here and the club knows that I am always ready to help them and convey our philosophy to the younger players,” Grifo said in an interview with the editors of Gianluca Di Marzio, “but yes, there have been offers from Italy, especially in the years when I played for the national team. I’m thinking of Sampdoria, but also Lazio and Fiorentina. When such important clubs call, you have to think about it.”
“Ultimately, we and the family have always decided to stay here, where we feel comfortable and where I have the guarantee of playing an important role. But I’m not ruling out Italy. Freiburg will always remain my home, even if one day I get in the car to go to Serie A,” said Grifo.
The left winger extended his contract last June. It is not known how long the working document is valid because the club does not communicate the term. Sports director Klemens Hartenbach said during the extension that there was no end in sight for Grifo and that things should continue as before in the next few years. The attacker has nine goals and three assists in 24 appearances across all competitions this season. Despite the scorer values, the Bundesliga’s most recent market value update fell due to age – from 6 million to 5 million euros.