Fabio Ruggeri, captain of Lazio’s Primavera team and currently in his third preseason training camp with the first team, is poised for a breakthrough in his career. The Roman-born defender, who wears the number 13 and captains the youth side, draws inevitable comparisons to Lazio legend Alessandro Nesta.
However, Ruggeri remains humble about such comparisons, stating, “It’s too big a comparison. He was a fantastic player of another category. Certainly, he’s an idol.”
Ruggeri joined the first team’s training camp on July 16th and has already noticed differences under new coach Marco Baroni compared to previous manager Maurizio Sarri. “The intensity is very high. Especially in terms of physical work, it’s more demanding compared to Sarri’s work,” he explains.
The young defender credits his time with the first team for his growth, saying, “In these three years I’ve grown a lot, especially last year. I spent many months with the first team and had the privilege of observing my teammates up close. I learned a lot.”
Ruggeri has felt supported by his senior teammates, particularly mentioning Danilo Cataldi and the entire defensive line. He appreciates their guidance, noting, “There’s no teammate who’s been too hard on me. It’s normal that in some cases they give you advice, but they do it for your own good.”
The 20-year-old has come a long way from playing in Primavera 2 to leading his team to the Scudetto finals this season. He attributes this progress to the confidence gained from training with the first team.
Ruggeri also spoke about the influence of his coaches. From Primavera coach Sanderra, he takes “the winning mentality and the care for positive energy in the group.” From Sarri, he learned about “attention to the defensive line,” while with Baroni, he’s noticing a focus on “being mentally and physically ready.”
Off the pitch, Ruggeri maintains a low profile on social media, preferring to keep his private life separate from his professional one. Despite his promising football career, he’s also pursuing a degree in Sports Science, explaining, “Unfortunately, in this sport, nothing is certain. Today you play as a starter, and tomorrow everything can change. It’s a way of preserving myself for the future.”
Looking ahead, Ruggeri is considering his next career move: “It’s something we’re evaluating with my agent and my family. Certainly, the idea is to go and play elsewhere. In the long term, I aim to have a career with this shirt.”
As for his ultimate dream? It’s clear: wearing the Lazio shirt, with the number 13 and the captain’s armband.
