Cesare Natali

Cesare Natali

Personal information
Date of birth	5 April 1979 (1979-04-05)
Place of birth	Bergamo, Italy
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Central Defender
Club information
Current club	Fiorentina
Number	14
Youth career
1997–1998	Atalanta
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–2005	Atalanta	69	(2)
1998–1999	→ Lecco (loan)	22	(1)
2001	→ Monza (loan)	11	(1)
2003–2004	→ Bologna (co-ownership)	31	(0)
2005–2007	Udinese	51	(1)
2007–2009	Torino	50	(3)
2009–	Fiorentina	55	(1)
National team‡
2002	Italy U-21	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 16, 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of May 12, 2007

Cesare Natali (born 5 April 1979) is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for ACF Fiorentina of Serie A.

Career

Atalanta

Natali started his career at Atalanta. He scored the opening goal in the relegation playoffs second legs in June 2003, but Atalanta eventually lost 1–2 and relegated to Serie B. On 30 August 2003, he was sold to Bologna in co-ownership deal. In 2004, he was resigned by Atalanta. He was the regular of the team, partnered again with Gianpaolo Bellini and Luigi Sala.

Atalanta relegated again in June 2005.

Udinese

On 29 June 2005, he was signed by Udinese, to rejoin team mate Piermario Morosini, Massimo Gotti, Marco Motta, Fausto Rossini. Udinese paid reported €2 million to relegated Atalanta for Natali. He signed a contract until 2010.

He was the regular of the team but suffered from fractured left ankle in September.

He made 32 starts during the 2006–07 season.

Torino

Since the signing of Aleksandar Luković, In July 2007, he was sold to Torino, signed a 4-year contract. He was the regular until injured in March 2008.

Fiorentina

On 4 July 2009, he was signed by ACF Fiorentina from relegated Torino, concurrentlly Torino signed Simone Loria as replacement. He signed a 3-year contract.

On 20 October 2009, he played his first game for Fiorentina, at UEFA Champions League 2009–10 versus Debreceni VSC, replacing Dario Dainelli at half time. After the departure of Dainelli to Genoa in January, and the fitness problems of Alessandro Gamberini, Per Krøldrup and new signing Felipe, along with tactical rotation, he earned more chances to play, including the Champions league match against FC Bayern Munich.

Natali scored his first goal for Fiorentina on 29th January 2012, netting the second in a 2-1 victory over derby rivals Siena.

International career

Along with Gianpaolo Bellini, team-mate at Atalanta, they were call-up to 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. They partnered all 3 group matches (including 1 substitute appearance) at the tournament.

In March 2004, he received his only call-up to national team, to replace injured Marcello Castellini.

Club

As of 5 February 2012

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Italy			League		Coppa Italia		Europe		Total
1998–99	Lecco	Serie C1	22	1					22	1
1999–00	Atalanta	Serie B	1	0	1	0			2	0
2000–01		Serie A	0	0	1	0			1	0
2000–01	Monza	Serie B	11	1					11	1
2001–02	Atalanta	Serie A	7	0	2	0			9	0
2002–03			27	1	1	0			301	21
2003–04	Bologna		31	0	0	0			31	0
2004–05	Atalanta		34	1	5	0			39	1
2005–06	Udinese		19	1	3	0	5	1	27	2
2006–07			32	0	3	1			35	1
2007–08	Torino		24	1	3	0			27	1
2008–09			26	2	3	1			29	3
2009–10	Fiorentina		14	0	4	0	3	0	21	0
2010–11			16	0					16	0
2011–12			17	1	2	0			19	1
Career total			281	9	27	2	8	1	3191	131

¹Include 2 matches and 1 goal at Relegation Play-offs

External links

• Profile at ACF Fiorentina official site
• FIGC (Italian)