Orsolini is one of those rare players who has it all. He has the physique, speed, dribbling, and striking ability that set him apart, but also a smile that could light up any room. Riccardo Orsolini, Orso, or Orsonaldo among friends and fans, became Bologna’s secret weapon on May 14, when he lifted the Coppa Italia at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, a trophy that the Rossoblù had waited 51 long years for. Just a year before, he had been part of Bologna’s impressive league campaign, which secured them a spot in the Champions League, but it wasn’t enough for Germany with the national team for the European Championship. Despite being included in Luciano Spalletti’s preliminary squad, Orso was dropped before reaching the final squad. He told Vivo Azzurro TV in an exclusive interview ‘In recent years, I’ve achieved so much with Bologna, and now I’m hoping for another big season, scoring more goals, and earning a call-up for the World Cup. It’s a dream but also a tangible goal, because I have everything it takes to fight for this opportunity."

A UNITED FAMILY. His parents, Davide and Cristiana, raised a bright, happy boy who loves to enjoy himself and make others smile. He’s deeply connected to his family and the place he grew up in. "My parents are vital to me because they always allowed me to do what I enjoyed, gave me the freedom to express myself, and I never missed out on anything. They have accompanied me on my journey, have always been there, and still are. Without them, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. I want to thank them for everything they’ve taught me and for the values they’ve instilled in me. My greatest victory is turning my passion into a career and being able to make so many people who care about me happy." Ricardo is also a loving grandson: "I have a special relationship with my two grandmothers, Ida and Tina. Grandma Ida even managed to make it to a few matches, at the stadium, I let her hold the Coppa Italia in her hands, and it really touched me."  

DEBUT IN BLACK AND WHITE. He first started playing in the small piazza of Rotella in Ascoli Piceno, a village of just 800 inhabitants at the foot of Monte Ascensione. It was there that he tried his first bicycle kicks, and the landings were anything but soft: "We grew up with scraped knees and broken glass. It was a great childhood, playing in the streets, I learned so much. There was a shutter we used as a goal, and over the years, we ended up destroying it." His love for football was mutual, and as a child, he began his journey with Ascoli that would take him to the first team and his Serie B debut. From one black and white shirt to another. Juventus signed him in January 2017, and he relocated to Atalanta, where he made his Serie A and Europa League debuts. Eight appearances but no goals in Bergamo. He perfected his skills in Bologna, growing both on and off the pitch led by Sinisa Mihajlovic, Thiago Motta, and Vincenzo Italiano. "I feel mature now. I’ve grown in so many ways. Looking back to when I first started playing, I realise I’ve changed a lot, especially when it comes to character and mentality. I’ve learnt life lessons with age, which are very useful in football."

PLAYING FOR THE AZZURRI. In October 2016, he wore the Azzurri jersey for the first time, for Italy’s under-20 national team. A year later, he flew to South Korea for the Under 20 World Cup. Italy finished third as they were defeated by Ademola Lookman’s England 3-1 in the semi-finals. That day, Orsolini’s fifth goal of the tournament couldn’t save them, but he still won the Golden Boot as the competition’s top scorer: "It was one of my first greatest achievements in the Azzurri shirt. I hope there will be many more; it’s a source of pride for me to represent these colours, to represent the entire country. Having everyone watching is something that motivates me." Two years later, he played in the European Championship in Italy with the Under-21s, but Gigi Di Biagio’s team didn’t make it past the group stage. His first senior Italy team call-up came from Roberto Mancini, and his debut was unforgettable. In Palermo, he scored Italy’s eighth goal in a 9-1 landslide defeat of Armenia: "It was surreal for a guy like me. I’ve dreamed of wearing the Azzurri shirt since I was a child, when I was scraping my knees in piazzas."

FROM SPALLETTI TO GATTUSO. After three years away from Coverciano, Orso returned in the Azzurri shirt in September 2023 thanks to Luciano Spalletti. The former head coach called him for the pre-camp ahead of the European Championship in Germany, but Ricardo didn’t end up being selected for the tournament. In June 2025, the gates of Coverciano reopened for him, but a home defeat to Norway led to a change in management. Gennaro Gattuso called up Orso for his first two games in charge against Estonia and Israel, bringing him on in both Bergamo and Debrecen: "With the coach, it’s the start of a new era. We’re very motivated and fired up, and we have a lot of responsibility because there’s a World Cup to win. We’re playing catch-up, and that’s never easy, but we’ll give it our all. It’s a moral duty to bring Italy back to where it deserves to be." While the wins against Estonia and Israel put Italy back on track, the journey to America will not be easy: "The coach has given us lots of useful advice, he’s present and engaged in training with the energy he brings. We’re lucky to have him, after all, he knows first-hand how to compete and win a World Cup. I think we’re on the right track and just need to carry on working and be ready when the time comes."