Matteo Lovato (born 14 February 2000) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie B club Empoli on loan from Salernitana.
Lovato spent his early years in the youth teams of Padova before moving to Genoa's under-17 team at age 16, where he made 18 appearances and scored two goals.[3] Lovato did not join Genoa's Primavera team, though; he returned to Padova on loan in January 2018.[4]
On 25 August 2019, Lovato made his Serie C debut with Padova under coach Salvatore Sullo, as a starter in a 3–1 away victory against Virtus Verona. He would remain with the club for the first half of the 2019–20 season, accumulating 18 appearances in all competitions.[3]
On 31 January 2020, Hellas Verona announced the acquisition of Lovato for a reported fee of €500,000.[3][5][6] He made his Serie A debut with the club on 18 July 2020 under coach Ivan Jurić as a late substitute for Koray Günter in a 1–1 home draw against Atalanta.[7][8]
The next season, Lovato broke into the starting lineup following the sale of Marash Kumbulla.[9][10] He made a total of 24 appearances for Verona, helping the club to a 10th-place finish.[11]
On 31 July 2021, Lovato signed for Atalanta on a four-year contract, for a reported fee of €8 million plus €3 million in bonuses.[12]
On 3 January 2022, Lovato joined Cagliari on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[13]
Lovato joined Salernitana on 6 July 2022 on a five-year contract,[14] as part of a deal in which Éderson moved the other way.[15]
On 31 January 2024, Lovato moved on loan to Torino, with an option to buy.[16]
On 7 August 2024, Lovato joined Sassuolo on loan, with an option to buy and a conditional obligation to buy.[17]
On 18 August 2025, Lovato was loaned to Empoli, with a conditional obligation to buy.[18]
On 12 November 2020, Lovato made his debut with the Italy U21 playing as a starter in a qualifying match won 2–1 against Iceland in Reykjavík.[19]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Padova | 2019–20 | Serie C | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| Hellas Verona | 2019–20 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | ||||
| Atalanta | 2021–22 | Serie A | 6 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Cagliari (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie A | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Salernitana | 2022–23 | Serie A | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| Torino (loan) | 2023–24 | Serie A | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| Sassuolo (loan) | 2024–25 | Serie B | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 127 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 1 | ||
