Alessandro Plizzari

Alessandro Plizzari (born 12 March 2000) is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Lecce on loan from Serie A club AC Milan. Club career Plizzari is a product of AC Milan's youth academy. In July 2016, he was promoted to the first team as a backup goalkeeper and received his first-ever call up to the senior team ahead of a home Serie A game against Udinese played on 11 September 2016, remaining on the bench as a substitute. Despite his involvement with the first team, he continued to play for Primavera as a starting goalkeeper throughout the season. In late 2016, Milan rejected a €2 million bid for Plizzari from Manchester City. On 4 July 2017, he signed a contract extension with Milan until 2020 and was immediately sent on loan to Ternana in Serie B until 30 June 2018. He made his professional debut at 17 years old, on 26 August 2017, in the league match against Empoli. He finished his debut season with 20 appearances in all competitions, conceding a total of 40 goals and keeping 1 clean sheet. In April 2019, despite making no appearances in the 2018–19 season, Plizzari extended his contract with Milan until the end of June 2023. On 1 August 2019, he was loaned out to Serie B club Livorno. He made his debut with Livorno on 5 October, playing as a starter in the league match against Chievo. On 21 August 2020, he joined Reggina on loan. International career He was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Italy U17 squad at the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where Italy was eliminated at the group stage. He was on the roster for Italy U20 team at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he was the second-choice goalkeeper behind Andrea Zaccagno. He played one game at the tournament, the 3rd place game in which Italy beat Uruguay in a penalty shootout after Plizzari saved two kicks by Uruguay players Rodrigo Amaral and Juan Manuel Boselli. He was the starting goalkeeper for Italy U19 at the 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, as Italy finished as runners-up to Portugal. The following year he took part in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup with the Italy U20 squad, reaching the fourth place. He made his debut with the Italy U21 on 10 September 2019, in the UEFA Euro 2021 qualifying match won 5–0 against Luxembourg.