Rafael Toloi

Rafael Toloi Cavaliere OMRI (born 10 October 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and a defensive right-back for Serie A club Atalanta and the Italy national team.

Toloi represented his native country of Brazil internationally at the under-20 level in 2009, but switched allegiance at the senior grade to Italy on February 17, 2021 after meeting FIFA's five-year residency requirement. He had been living in Italy since his move to Atalanta early in the 2015–16 season, and had years earlier acquired Italian citizenship, for which he was eligible because his great grandparents hailed from Treviso, Veneto. He made his senior debut for Italy in 2021, and represented the nation at their victorious UEFA Euro 2020 campaign.

Club Career

Goias

Born in Gloria d'Oeste, Mato Grosso, he started playing for Goias Esporte Clube in 2008, and helped his club win the Campeonato Goiano in 2009. Toloi played 17 Serie B games for Goias and scored two goals.

Sao Paulo

On 5 July 2012, Sao Paulo FC confirmed Toloi in their squad, with the defender signing a five-year contract. He scored his first goal for tricolor paulista on 25 July 2012 in a match against Atletico Goianiense.

On 3 August 2013, Toloi scored the goal that confirmed the title of Eusebio Cup for Sao Paulo FC, in a 2–0 victory against S.L. Benfica.

Loan to Roma

On 31 January 2014, Toloi was loaned to Serie A side A.S. Roma for the remainder of the 2013–14 season for a fee of €500,000. The move was agreed with an option to buy for a total value of €5.5 million. He made his debut for the Giallorossi in their 2–1 win against Torino on 25 March 2014, playing the full 90 minutes in place of the suspended Medhi Benatia.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Рафаэл Толой (russian)