Gianluigi Lentini
Encyclopedia
Gianluigi Lentini is a former Italian
winger
who was once the world's most expensive
footballer
, when he moved from Torino to AC Milan
for £13 million in 1992.
Lentini started his career at Torino
, and after occasional appearances he spent the 1988/89 season on loan with Ancona
. He returned to a Torino team that had been relegated, but Lentini scored 6 goals as Torino were promoted straight back to Serie A
for the 1990-91 season.
Whilst at Torino he gained his first cap for the Italy national football team
, against Belgium on 13 February 1991. He was capped on 13 occasions, making his last appearance on 6 November 1996.
He played 30 times in Milan's title-winning season (1992–93), but managed only 33 more games for the club. Despite his title as 'world's most expensive player' he remained largely unknown outside Italy and never became a household name like players such as Roberto Baggio
and Gianluca Vialli
. He was only capped by Italy 13 times.
A year after signing for Milan, at the age of 24, Lentini was involved in a serious car crash whilst driving home from a pre-season tournament in Genoa. He fractured his skull and damaged his eye socket and he spent approximately 2 days in a light coma. However, he went on to make full recovery.
Lentini then enjoyed a brief but successful spell on loan at Atalanta
in 1996, before swiftly returning to Torino for a more modest transfer fee of £2 million in 1997. He then joined Cosenza
, where he played until 2004.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
winger
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
who was once the world's most expensive
World football transfer record
This is a list of the progression of the world association football transfer record when measured in British pounds.-See also:*Highest transfer fees*Progression of British football transfer fee record-Notes:...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, when he moved from Torino to AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
for £13 million in 1992.
Lentini started his career at Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
, and after occasional appearances he spent the 1988/89 season on loan with Ancona
A.C. Ancona
Associazione Calcio Ancona was a professional Italian football club, based in Ancona, Marche. It was founded in 1905 as Unione Sportiva Anconitana, changing its name to Ancona Calcio 1905 in 1981 and being refounded in 2004 with its last denomination....
. He returned to a Torino team that had been relegated, but Lentini scored 6 goals as Torino were promoted straight back to Serie A
Lega Serie A
The Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A , commonly known as Lega Serie A , is the governing body that runs the major professional football competitions in Italy, most prominently the Serie A.It was founded on 1 July 2010...
for the 1990-91 season.
Whilst at Torino he gained his first cap for the Italy national football team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, against Belgium on 13 February 1991. He was capped on 13 occasions, making his last appearance on 6 November 1996.
He played 30 times in Milan's title-winning season (1992–93), but managed only 33 more games for the club. Despite his title as 'world's most expensive player' he remained largely unknown outside Italy and never became a household name like players such as Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is a retired Italian footballer. Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of his generation, Baggio won both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1993. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups. He is also one of the top 5 all-time...
and Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli is an Italian football manager and former player. Since retiring, he has gone into management and punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sport Italia....
. He was only capped by Italy 13 times.
A year after signing for Milan, at the age of 24, Lentini was involved in a serious car crash whilst driving home from a pre-season tournament in Genoa. He fractured his skull and damaged his eye socket and he spent approximately 2 days in a light coma. However, he went on to make full recovery.
Lentini then enjoyed a brief but successful spell on loan at Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
in 1996, before swiftly returning to Torino for a more modest transfer fee of £2 million in 1997. He then joined Cosenza
A.S. Cosenza Calcio
Nuova Cosenza Calcio is an Italian football club, based in Cosenza, Calabria. The team's official colours are red and blue.-Early times and Serie B:...
, where he played until 2004.
Honours
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
- 1994 - Serie ASerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
- 1993, 1994, 1996 - Italian Super Cups - 1993, 1994
- Serie BSerie BSerie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
- 1990, 2001