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A remarkable story accompanies the very first photo of Luciano Valente. The ultrasound image shows only a foot. Mother Irene is initially disappointed, wanting a complete picture of her baby. Father Roberto immediately knows better, laughing and saying, “My son will be a soccer player.” And so it came to pass.
A lot can happen in a year. Just last year, Valente was named Man of the Match for FC Groningen in a scoreless draw against Almere City FC. Less than eleven months later, he’s a standout player for Feyenoord and an international for the Netherlands national team.
When mentioned in the media as a potential replacement for Frenkie de Jong in the Netherlands starting lineup, he reportedly told his father Roberto: “How embarrassing. I’m so ashamed.”
‘Luciano is Lax’
The 22-year-old from Groningen describes himself as a very cheerful family man. Around the full kitchen table in Zuidlaren, other words emerge: a little lax, a bit naive, very busy, and above all, not afraid.
“Yes, that’s part of it,” admits the youngest of three Valente brothers. “He’s not a little lax. Luciano is just lax,” adds mother Irene. Brothers Ricardo (30) and Lorenzo (27) nod in agreement. This trait isn’t always appreciated in a highly driven soccer family.
Father Roberto recalls a particularly telling moment from when Luciano was just a young boy. After a lopsided 9-1 loss in a youth match for FC Groningen, a smiling Luciano cheerfully told his parents in the car, “The coach said we played well.”
Roberto, a former youth player for AS Roma with a staunch Italian perspective, sharply questioned his son: “What did you play well?” He then laid out the harsh reality for Luciano. “You lost 9-1. You might as well quit soccer.”
Roberto uses the characteristic Italian hand gestures as he recounts the story. “That’s how I was raised in Italy,” he explains. “Winning is all that matters there. And then you see all the other parents clapping and saying their kids did so well. They lost 9-1! That doesn’t exist for me.”
Ricardo remembers the incident vividly: “What really bothered Dad was that ‘Lu’ got in the car with a big smile.”
A Bit Lax
The 22-year-old admits to being a cheerful family man. But around the kitchen table in Zuidlaren, other descriptions emerge: a little lax, somewhat naive, very busy, and, above all, unafraid.
“Yes, that’s definitely part of it,” he concedes. “He’s not a little lax, Luciano *is* lax,” Irene adds. Brothers Ricardo and Lorenzo nod in agreement. This characteristic isn’t always appreciated in such a competitive soccer family.
