Profile Rafael Palladino

Personal information

Full Name : Rafael Palladino
Date of birth : 17 April 1984
Place of birth : Mugnano di Napoli, Italy
Height : 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position : Second striker, Winger
Current club : Parma
Number : 84
Youth career :
Benevento
2002–2004 Juventus
Senior career :
2001–2002 Benevento
2004–2008 Juventus
2004–2005 → Salernitana (loan)
2005–2006 → Livorno (loan)
2008–2010 Genoa
2011- Parma
National team :
2005–2007 Italy U-21
2007– Italy

Club career

The first team career of Palladino started in his native region of Campania where he played for Benevento in Serie C1. Including games played in Coppa Italia Serie C, his record at Benevento was 12 games played and 5 goals scored.
It was not long before he gained the attentions of Juventus and was signed by the club in 2002, during his earlier years with Juventus he played in reserve and youth levels in competitions such as Torneo di Viareggio (which the club won in 2003 and 2004). However, during the 2003–04 season, he did make one appearance in the Coppa Italia. He scored 41 goals in 61 games in the Campionato Nazionale Primavera.

Loan spells

To gain some first team experience, Palladino was loaned out to Salernitana back in Campania.
The first taste of Serie A football came in 2005–06 for the player, he was loaned out once more, this time to Livorno. Although he gained some valuable experience he did not score as many goals as he did during his spell with Salernitana the previous season.

Return to Juventus

Juventus had been relegated down to Serie B due to the result of the 2006 Serie A scandal. Despite the lower division, first team places were still hotly contested and the young Palladino was given a chance to prove himself in the first team by Didier Deschamps. On his league debut Palladino scored two goals. In the same season he also scored a hat-trick against Triestina. Juventus won promotion back into Serie A that season giving Palladino his first senior team honour.
Although he is mainly a striker, with the presence of Alessandro Del Piero, Vincenzo Iaquinta, and especially David Trezeguet, Palladino had a hard time finding a spot as a striker. He mainly played as a left winger during the 2007–2008 season, although he is predominately right footed.

Genoa

On 3 July 2008, Palladino was signed by Genoa in co-ownership deal, priced €5million (for 50% rights), joined along with defender Domenico Criscito on loan.

Parma

On 3 January 2011, Genoa's half share in Palladino was transferred to Parma in a move which saw Parma's half share in Alberto Paloschi go the other way and the exchange of the full registration of Francesco Modesto and Luca Antonelli. Genoa also paid €7M. Palladino's contract will run until the summer of 2014

International career

He has represented his country at Under-21 level. Palladino received his first call-up to the senior team on 17 November 2007 versus Scotland under the direction of Roberto Donadoni, but did not play in the game. His debut came just a few days later, against the Faroe Islands. Palladino played as one of the three strikers along with Luca Toni and Vincenzo Iaquinta.