What Happened To Matteo Brighi? From FIFA’s Finest to Football Obscurity…
Every year, there are players who are a cut above the rest. There’s always one who trains with the first team when they’re 14 who is then touted ‘the next [Insert best player in country’s history here]’. While some have the
level-headedness to keep their feet on the ground and achieve their potential, others – due to cockiness, pressure or the lack of a big breakthrough – don’t live up to the hype.
Which fate befalls which player is difficult to predict. However franchises such as FIFA, eFootball and Football Manager have to make these judgments annually. And while they hit the nail on the head sometimes, superstars such as ViniciusJunior and Martin Odegaard being cases in point, others can disappear into the footballing wilderness and fade from the global spotlight they once occupied.
Possibly the biggest fall from grace was Italian midfielder Matteo Brighi. Making his debut for Rimini aged 17, scoring a goal in the process, he caught Juventus boss Carlo Ancelotti’s eye. “In some ways, he looks like me” his new gaffer said, implying they had a similar playing style, which boded well for young Brighi. However, the Bianconeri had won two Champions Leagues over the decade and thus this 18-year old wasn’t acquired for an immediate impact. Brighi had his mind on other things too. Instead of getting into action in Turin, he obtained a diploma in accounting.
”I didn’t feel like coming right away” he later said “I wasn’t ready yet. It was better to wait, and gain some more experience.” He headed back to Rimini where he played the majority of the season, scoring six goals in 34 games as the side came second in Serie C but lost in the play-offs. His bow in Serie A followed as he returned to Juventus, where there was a clash of cultures developing. Controversial club exec Luciano Moggi was waxing lyrical about his new star, claiming he was as good as Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Redondo, who had just won UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. Ancelotti preferred to keep him out of the spotlight. Brighi struggled for games on his return to Turin and was shipped out on a second loan spell, this time to Bologna. It was a wise move. Despite not being on the scoresheet, he made an impressive 32 appearances as the Rossoblu punched above their weight, finishing seventh. The rest of Italy was beginning to see the potential of this composed centre midfielder. The Young Player of the Year gong went his way which pricked the ears of EA’s head honchos.
Then came the 97 rating on FIFA Football 2003.
Despite the building hype, his return to Juve was short-lived, being sold to Parma in a swap deal. By all logic and certainly if you trusted FIFA, this was Brighi’s entrance onto the world stage. But while his new side performed well, finishing 5th and qualifying for the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League), his campaign was ridden with injuries, missing around half of the season. A loan to Brescia followed garnering improvement and a much needed boost in his career.
Juventus had only sold 50% of his ‘representation rights’ when they offloaded him and so, akin to buy-back clauses today, they repurchased the stake they’d sold and got rid of him for good. Another swap deal (Emerson going the other way) saw him head to Roma in 2004. A loan spell quickly ensued though, with Brighi spending the campaign helping Chievo Verona to within a couple of games from Champions League football. The former wonderkid was hitting form, getting nine goals to his name across a three-season loan spell there – not too shabby for a central midfielder. However, despite boasting a team of talented individuals, Verona found themselves slumping into Serie B after qualifying for Europe just a year before. An exodus followed with Brighi amongst them.
Upon his return to Italy’s capital in 2007, he finally received his break for I Giallorossi. Roma were on the crest of a wave, with former Barcelona star Ludovic Giuly, ex-Real defender Christian Panucci, as well as iconic homegrown stars Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti in their ranks. Competing on three fronts, they came away with just the Coppa Italia but put up meritable fights in the league – missing out on the final day – and Europe – losing to eventual winners Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals after previously overcoming Real Madrid. Another second-placed finish followed two years later – sandwiched by an underwhelming 6th the previous term – Roma again falling to Inter.
It was here he seemed to feel at home the most, describing coach Luciano Spalletti as “the best I’ve ever had in terms of managing the group”. It was here he made the most appearances too, the only club where he amounted more than 100 of them.
But it was not to last forever. The remainder of his contract was seen out on two loan spells, the latter was made permanent and he returned to Turin in 2013, this time with Torino. But within six months he was off again, this time with Sassuolo whom he helped steer clear from relegation. He spent 18 months with Serie B Perugia before terminating his contract and spending the final six months of his career in the top flight at Empoli, unable to save them from the drop.
While he undoubtedly had talent, it’s clear he could’ve achieved more. One recurring comment was his timidness. His ability was clear, noted Ancelotti but even early on he pointed out “he should just be less shy”.
Indeed, he wasn’t a fan of the lavish lifestyle some of his teammates enjoyed. Wherever he went, managers would praise him for his consistent work ethic. Usually this would translate to a drive and hunger that leads to success, but an argument could be made that perhaps he didn’t have the passion for the game others did. While some footballers go against their family’s will and put football ahead of school, Brighi had his eyes, logically, on a plan B if all else failed – hence the aforementioned accounting degree. On the contrary, maybe if he had put all his focus on the beautiful game he could have realised his innate potential.
It is likely also that over enthusiastic cheerleaders such as Moggi and EA wouldn’t have helped. “He is one of those diligent midfielders that every trainer would want to have. To my warning, at the beginning of his career, he was praised so excessively that too many expectations were created around him.” Marcello Lippi, his coach at the national team with whom he made four appearances, said of the matter.
Today, youngsters are wisely shielded from the hype and stardom by their managers; in fear of their prospect getting swept up by the paparazzi. To his credit, Brighi stayed humble despite his great
expectations. But one can only wonder how he’d fare in the modern game, where youth stars are kept from the blinding lights.
But, had he reached the top, he would’ve been a rare breed. “I like to work, not talk. Other players talk and sell themselves, certainly better than I do. I don’t blame them for it. It’s just not me.” He told Sky Italia during the halcyon days at Roma. A kid with incredible ability but the mentality of any other average footballer.
Oscar Lovell Clark