Caterina Venturelli

Many of her childhood afternoons were spent playing football with her brother and cousins.

Before choosing football, she practised artistic gymnastics mainly because several of her friends were doing it.

Venturelli was the only girl in her first team, playing entirely alongside boys. That early experience taught her to stand up for herself despite being one of the youngest and smallest members of the group.

She took part in Sassuolo’s visits to local primary schools, meeting pupils in Sassuolo and nearby Casinalbo.

She originally played as a midfielder and later as an attacking wide player before being converted into a full-back.