Profile: Cristian Battocchio | Chennaiyin FC's 'Midfield Maestro'

Cristian Battocchio’s partnership with his teammates is set to sow disruption among rival midfields.

Chennaiyin FC welcomed Argentina-born Italian midfielder Cristian Battocchio to their roster on August 21. During the Durand Cup, the former Udinese midfielder seamlessly integrated into the squad while in Guwahati. The signing marked their 11th acquisition of the transfer window and the fourth addition from abroad. The others are Rafael Crivellaro, Connor Shields, and Jordan Murray.

Drawing upon his extensive experience and versatile skills in midfield, Cristian Battocchio’s addition to Chennaiyin FC is set to fortify their gameplay. His well-rounded abilities are expected to bring depth and impact to the team’s performance in the upcoming season. Here’s a concise overview of the midfielder’s profile.

Prior Experience

Cristian Battocchio’s football journey commenced when he joined Italian outfit Udinese at just 16, transitioning from Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys for a transfer fee of 200,000 euros. His inaugural senior appearance for Udinese unfolded in February 2011, marking the start of his professional career.

Battocchio, an Argentine talent who also represented Italy across various youth levels, later embarked on a new chapter in the United Kingdom. He initially donned the jersey of Watford on loan in August 2012, eventually solidifying his place in the squad with a permanent contract a year later.

During his tenure at Watford, he garnered valuable experience, making a notable 59 appearances for the club. Subsequently, his footballing voyage traversed a global trajectory, taking him through a diverse array of destinations. This included stints in France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and Greece, highlighting his adaptability and willingness to embrace different football cultures. Battocchio’s story exemplifies his commitment to the sport and his aspiration to contribute to teams worldwide, showcasing his versatility and passion for football on a truly international scale.

Type of player

Lauded by his Udinese youth coach as a potential “deep-lying playmaker”, Cristian Battocchio thrives in this role. His prowess is evident with an impressive 80% pass completion rate, complemented by an outstanding 88% success rate for short passes. Battocchio’s ball control is characterized by his pragmatism and effectiveness; he frequently opts for safe passes rather than risking turnovers.

His aptitude for orchestrating the game’s rhythm is evident, underscoring his importance in dictating the tempo of play. As a deep-lying playmaker, Battocchio’s presence offers precision and control to his team’s midfield, facilitating strategic ball circulation and maintaining possession.

What he brings to the team

Following the departure of influential midfielders Julius Düker and Anirudh Thapa in the transfer window, Chennaiyin FC faced a void in their midfield. The acquisition of Cristian Battocchio is aimed at addressing this gap. Chennaiyin are banking on Battocchio’s reliability in midfield, anticipating that he will seamlessly integrate into the team and establish a strong partnership with his colleagues.

This partnership aims to bolster the team’s midfield dynamics, thereby offering valuable support to forwards like Jordan Murray and Connor Shields, who are in need of quality supply to score goals. The hope is that Battocchio’s presence will play a pivotal role in propelling Chennaiyin up the ranks of the Indian Super League (ISL) table, ensuring a competitive edge and a balanced team performance in the upcoming season.

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