Matteo Darmian’s arrival at Bologna carries a significance beyond a free transfer completed in October. The 36-year-old, released by Inter after the end of last season, has become the only Italian player with World Cup experience currently registered in Serie A.
A small marker of Italy’s World Cup absence
For the opening months of the campaign, Italy’s top division had contained no Azzurri player who had appeared at a World Cup. It was an unwelcome reflection of the national side’s longer absence from the tournament: Italy have missed the last three editions of the World Cup, with Brazil 2014 remaining their most recent appearance.
The situation developed during the summer when Mattia Perin, 33, left Juventus for Serie B side Palermo, while Darmian’s Inter contract expired. Both men were members of Italy’s squad in Brazil 12 years ago.
- Perin travelled to the 2014 World Cup as Gianluigi Buffon’s understudy and did not play a match.
- Darmian featured in all three of Italy’s group-stage fixtures, against England, Costa Rica and Uruguay.
- Italy went out in the group stage, and have not returned to a World Cup since.
- After becoming a free agent following his Inter departure, Darmian began training with Bologna on 30 September.
- Bologna confirmed his signing on Thursday, ending the brief period in which Serie A had no Italian World Cup participant.
Bologna add experience after Holm injury
Darmian has signed a contract running until June 2027. Bologna’s decision came after Emil Holm sustained a hamstring injury while away with Sweden, an issue expected to keep the defender out for between four and six months.
The former Inter player arrives as cover at a point when Bologna need options following Holm’s absence. His signing also restores a rare link between the present Serie A season and Italy’s last World Cup campaign, a reminder of how long the Azzurri have been outside football’s biggest stage.
