Graziano Pellè

Graziano Pellè, born on July 15, 1985, is a distinguished Italian former professional footballer renowned for his role as a striker. He embarked on his football journey with Lecce, a Serie A club, where he initially showcased his talent before being loaned to several lower-division teams to gain valuable experience.

In 2007, Pellè made a significant move to the Netherlands, joining AZ Alkmaar. His tenure at the club was marked by success, as he clinched the Eredivisie title during his second season, contributing to the team's impressive performance over four years.

After returning to Italy for brief stints with Parma and Sampdoria, Pellè found his stride back in the Dutch league with Feyenoord. His remarkable goal-scoring ability caught the attention of Southampton, leading to an eight million pound transfer in July 2014. He continued to make waves in the Premier League until his move to Shandong Luneng in July 2016 for an estimated twelve million pounds.

On the international stage, Pellè represented Italy at various youth levels, including under-20 and under-21, and was part of the Olympic team in 2008, although he did not compete in the tournament. He made his senior debut in 2014, scoring on his first appearance, and played a pivotal role in the Italian squad during UEFA Euro 2016, netting two goals before the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals.