Ugandan center-back Elio Capradossi has landed a spot with Italian Serie B side AS Cittadella, taking another big step in his football journey.
The club made the announcement on their X (formerly Twitter) account Monday, saying, “AS Cittadella announces the acquisition of the sporting performances of ELIO CAPRADOSSI. Our welcome to Elio in garnet and a big good luck for the next Serie B championship with our colors.”
Capradossi joined on a free transfer after his contract with Lecco Calcio ended. His debut for the Uganda Cranes back in July 2024 against Botswana turned heads and proved he’s got what it takes at the international level.
Born in Kampala on March 11, 1996, Elio has an interesting backstory. His dad’s Italian, his mom’s Congolese, and with that mix, he had the option to represent Italy, DR Congo, or Uganda. In the end, he chose to wear the Cranes jersey, and fans couldn’t be happier about it.
His football journey kicked off in 2010 at AS Roma’s academy. He broke into Roma’s senior team in 2015 but only got two games before being sent out on loan to Bari and later Spezia, where he really started to shine. After impressing at Spezia, they signed him permanently in 2019, and he went on to make 33 more appearances, bagging two goals.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, though. An ACL injury while playing for Italy’s U20 squad set him back, leading to a string of loan moves. But Elio’s the kind of player who fights his way back, and now he’s got this fresh start with Cittadella.
Standing tall at 1.85 meters, he’s a commanding presence on the pitch, and Cittadella will be counting on his experience as they aim for a strong Serie B season. For Cranes fans, this is a chance to see him grow even more and lock in his spot on the national team under coach Paul Put.
Put even gave him a shoutout on X, saying, “Congratulations Elio Capradossi upon getting a new team.”
It’s another chapter in what’s already been a rollercoaster career. Here’s hoping Elio crushes it at Cittadella and keeps making Uganda proud.
