Davide Faraoni

 ( 1991 Births ) 

Faraoni played five out of a possible six matches for Inter in December, all as right midfielder. The first match was his first start in his professional career, losing to Udinese Calcio 0–1 on 3 December. In the next game, Faraoni played his first European start, losing to CSKA, but Inter already qualified as group winners before that match. He then played 3 out of 4 successive league matches, as a midfielder, in which Inter won all 4 matches and climbed from the bottom half to 5th before the winter break. Faraoni was highly ratedPage 1 to 6 of 11 December 2011 La Gazzetta dello Sport in the first match (v. ACF Fiorentina) but he was substituted at half time in the second (v. Genoa, by Álvarez, who made a winning assist) and third matches (v. Lecce, by Cambiasso). In those 4 league appearances, Javier Zanetti moved from right midfielder to right-back twice (against Udinese & Genoa, Maicon was injured/rested, whilst he was suspended v. Fiorentina), and as central midfielder (v. Lecce, Cambiasso on the bench); while his right wing-back competitor Yuto Nagatomo was played as a left-back to replace injured Cristian Chivu in the latter 3 matches. Faraoni missed the match against Cesena on 18 December as Zanetti and Maicon restored to their usual positions.

Despite being returned to a 'backup' role on 7 January 2012 against Parma FC, Faraoni came on as a substitute and scored his first ever Serie A goal, in the 77th minute. He hit a stunning volley from the edge of the area which lobbed the Parma Antonio Mirante and crowned a 5–0 win. On 12 January 2012, Inter announced that Faraoni had signed a new -year contract. A week later, Faraoni made his Coppa Italia debut in a 2–1 win over Genoa.

Faraoni returned to the starting XI on 17 February, playing three successive Serie A matches. Since late January Inter had suffered from an injury crisis (Alvarez, Maicon and then Chivu twice), poor form and the departure of star player (Thiago Motta) and did not win any games with only two draws. The coach had changed the formation occasionally to fit the recovered Wesley Sneijder but there was no improvement. Faraoni had played as a right wing in 4–2–3–1 formation against Bologna (as the coach had limited choices of winger since the injury of Alvarez) and then starting right-back (due to the injuries of Maicon and Chivu, Nagatomo had to play left-back) for the first time in the 4–3–1–2 formation against Napoli. The third match saw the return of the 4–4–2 formation with Faraoni as a right midfielder. However, he was substituted for Sneijder at half time after the first half finished 0–2 against Catania. Eventually Inter 2–2 draw with Catania, their first point since January.

After the appointment of Andrea Stramaccioni, Faraoni was left out from the starting XI completely.

In Faraoni's first season he was given the number 19. He made his Watford debut away to Birmingham City on 3 August 2013. Faraoni scored his first Watford goal away to Reading on 17 August 2013, heading home a corner in the second half. He scored his first cup goal against Norwich in a 3–2 loss. After one season and 43 appearances for Watford (38 in the league), Faraoni announced on Twitter he would be heading back to Italy in July 2014.

Faraoni once again returned to Udinese in the summer of 2016. On 10 March 2017 he had an operation on his left knee (removal of an intra–articular fragment), at Villa Stuart, the same clinic he had had an operation on his right knee in 2009.

He started two out of three matches of 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship elite qualification, which Azzurrini finished as the third and eliminated. As U-19 (born 1990) team also eliminated from the 2009 edition of UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, Faraoni promoted to U-19 directly and made his debut against Romania in December 2008 FIGC also organized a U-18 friendly for the same age group in January and Faraoni played, winning Denmark 3–0. Missed a game in March against Norway, he played the match against Ukraine U-19 (born 1990) team in April, and played all four matches in a U-18 Slovakia Cup. Missed the match against Denmark U-19, the qualification and two more friendlies due to injury, Faraoni returned to the U-19 team in April 2010, defeating Switzerland 1–0. He then played all 3 matches of the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification., but dropped from the final squad by the coach Massimo Piscedda.

In November 2010, he received his first U-21 call-up from the new coach Ciro Ferrara; on 17 November he made his debut in the friendly match against Turkey played in Fermo. That match Inter had a dominated 5 members (out of 23-men) in the squad, namely forward Mattia Destro, defender Giulio Donati, Luca Caldirola and Cristiano Biraghi. (which the latter two remains in 2011–12 Inter squad). Except missed one in February (played for U-20 instead), he played three successive games (despite not call-up to 2011 Toulon Tournament) and benched on 10 August, became one of the regular member of Azzurrini along with Inter team-mate Francesco Bardi, Caldirola, Donati and Davide Santon (1 keeper, 1 centre-back and 2 fullbacks) He was the third choice right-back for Azzurrini at 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification, behind Santon (a Newcastle player since late August) and Donati (who later swapped the role with Santon). He made his debut in that tournament in round 5 on 15 November 2011, replacing winger Antonino Ragusa. However, after lack of chance under Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni, Faraoni was dropped out from U21 squad.

• Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 2011

Fiorentina

• UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2023–24

• AIC profile (data by football.it)