Lautaro Valenti: From Kidnapping to Parma, A Journey of Resilience
An exploration of Parma defender Lautaro Valenti's harrowing experience with kidnapping, his journey to playing in Europe, and insights into his career and relationships with fellow players. Join us as we delve into the remarkable story of a footballer's resilience and determination.

An interview with the Parma defender, who recalls a nasty incident that happened to him a few years ago.Lautaro Valenti was a guest on the Talk Player podcast. Among the many topics covered in the interview, the Parma player spoke about the early days of his career, the time he was kidnapped along with his partner and agent, and also discussed some of the players and managers he has worked with during his recent career. Here is what he had to say.When he was still in his twenties and living in Argentina, Valenti experienced moments of sheer terror when he was kidnapped by a gang of bandits, along with his girlfriend and his agent. This is how he recalls it: "My only fear was the gun pointed at my knee and the thought that I might never play football again. They wanted money; my agent was there too, so there was no problem. I wasn’t nervous. Was I afraid of dying? No, but I was afraid of not being able to play football. Did the kidnapping give me more strength? No, I never thought about it; the past is the past.”"What makes Parma special is the love shown by everyone here and by all the people who come through these parts. I’ve been here for many years now and you really feel the warmth of so many people. Why Parma? I wanted to play in Europe; Parma were the first club to want me and I gave them my word. It was a bit tough at first because of all the injuries – I’d never had any in Argentina, they all started here. It was a bit tough at first, but if you’ve got a strong mind, you pull yourself together.""Did I expect Chivu to manage a top club? Yes, I already knew he could be a great manager.Cuesta comes from a very big club in England, so I think he’s brought us a lot of ambition and a lot of his own strength; it’s great working with him."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting“Pellegrino knows we’re all behind him, so he does what he has to do to help the team. Yes, he might be missing a couple of goals, but there are others there to help him score them. But if he stays strong, he’ll do whatever he wants. Bernabè? He’stoo good. Football-wise, he’s too good. In my opinion, dribbling is like speaking for him – it’s too easy. So if he stays on his own path, he’ll achieve great things.”On Leoni, his former teammate now at Liverpool, he added: “We speak often; I hear from him quite a bit about how things are going in general, how his recovery is going. I told him he needs to look ahead and not think about his leg; he needs to focus on recovering as soon as possible. Then, when he gets back on the pitch, he mustn’t think about his knee, because if he thinks about his knee, it’s a bit difficult to manage on the pitch. He just has to think about what’s ahead of him."
The Kidnapping Incident
Lautaro Valenti opens up about the terrifying moment he was kidnapped by a gang of bandits in Argentina, along with his girlfriend and agent. Despite the fear of not being able to play football again due to a gun aimed at his knee, Valenti remained composed. The experience shaped his perspective on life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
Journey to Parma
Valenti shares his reasons for choosing Parma as his European destination, emphasizing the warmth and support he received from the club and the community. Despite initial challenges with injuries, Valenti's strong mindset enabled him to overcome obstacles and establish himself as a key player for the team.
Insights on Managers and Teammates
Reflecting on his interactions with managers like Chivu and Cuesta, Valenti praises their leadership qualities and the impact they have had on the team's ambition and morale. He also highlights the potential of young talents like Bernabè and offers encouragement to Leoni during his recovery at Liverpool.


