Rolando Mandragora is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Udinese. He began his professional career at Genoa, making five Serie A appearances and playing more frequently on loan at Pescara in Serie B. In 2016 he joined Juventus, where he made a sole appearance and was loaned a year later to Crotone, where he played regularly. He signed for Udinese in 2018. Mandragora represented Italy at every age group from under-17 to under-21. He made his senior international debut in June 2018.
Club career
Early career
Mandragora is a native of the Naplesquartiere of Scampìa. His father ran the local football school established by Paolo and Fabio Cannavaro. Mandragora was scouted by Serie A clubs while at Mariano Keller and joined the youth sector of Genoa at age fourteen. He made his Serie A debut on 29 October 2014 against Juventus in a 1–0 home win. He played the first 69 minutes of the game, before being substituted by Juraj Kucka.
Juventus
On 19 January 2016, Juventus confirmed the signing of Mandragora on a five-year contract for an initial fee of €6 million, potentially rising to €12 million based on performance. He spent the rest of the 2015–16 season on loan at Serie B side Pescara. In April 2016 he suffered a fractured metatarsal in his right foot which required surgery. His recovery was hindered due to complications and he was forced to undergo a second surgery that August. Mandragora returned to Juventus for the 2016–17 season and was given the number 38 shirt. He made his Juventus debut on 23 April 2017, coming on as a substitute for Claudio Marchisio in the 86th minute of a 4–0 home win against his former club Genoa, in Serie A. On 5 August 2017, Mandragora was loaned to fellow top-flight team Crotone for the season. He played all but two of their league games, starting each one as the Calabrian club suffered relegation, and contributed two goals; the first of his career was on 24 September to open a 2–0 home win over Benevento.
Udinese
On 2 July 2018, Mandragora was sold to fellow Serie A side Udinese but Juventus kept a buy-back option for €20 million. Mandragora received a one-match retrospective ban for blasphemy from Lega Serie A in August 2018; after having a shot saved against Sampdoria he shouted insults towards the Virgin Mary and God. On 22 December 2018, Mandragora scored his first goal for Udinese to open a 1–1 home draw with Frosinone. A week later, he was given a straight red card by the video assistant referee in a 2–0 win over Cagliari also at the Stadio Friuli.
