13 Facts About Nicola Ventola

Nicola Ventola was born on 24 May 1978 and is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Nicola Ventola made his Serie A debut on 6 November 1994 against Fiorentina, at the age of 16 and 166 days.

Nicola Ventola left the club in 1998 after three more seasons, after scoring 12 goals in 45 appearances with the club.

Nicola Ventola returned to Inter in 2001, but he suffered from several injuries that season, only making 16 appearances and scoring four goals in Serie A, as Inter narrowly missed out on the Serie A title; however, he bagged an impressive five goals in nine appearances in Europe, as Inter reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, and finished the season with a total of ten goals in all competitions.

In July 2005, Nicola Ventola signed a two-year contract with Atalanta.

Nicola Ventola scored his first goal on 17 January 2010, in a draw against Como.

Nicola Ventola played his first competitive international match for the Italy national under-17 football team, in a 1994 UEFA European Under-16 Championship qualifying fixture; in total, he scored one goal in two appearances for the under-17 side, featuring as a substitute for Ivano Montanaro, and as a starter respectively.

Nicola Ventola scored one goal in the group stage of the 1996 UEFA European Under-18 Championship for the Italy national under-19 football team, serving as the team's captain.

Nicola Ventola made his debut for the Italy under-21 side on 3 October 1996, at the age of 18, in a 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match, coming on as a substitute for Fabrizio Cammarata.

Nicola Ventola made 25 appearances with the Italy Under-21 and Under-23 sides, scoring 12 goals, winning the 1997 Mediterranean Games and the 2000 UEFA Under-21 European Championship with the team; he represented Italy at the 2000 Summer Olympics, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the tournament by eventual runners-up Spain.

An agile and talented right-footed player, with good technique, Nicola Ventola was considered one of Bari's and Italy's most promising prospects in his youth, although he suffered many injuries throughout his career.

In 2013, Erick Thohir, Inter Milan's president at the time, stated that Nicola Ventola is his all-time favorite Inter player.

Nicola Ventola's nephew Danilo Giacinto Ventola is a professional footballer.