The Fornaroli file: from Uruguay to Australia

​The chatter on social and in the media is that Melbourne City’s Bruno Fornaroli is turning into one of the best-ever imports in Hyundai A-League history.

Given his amazing goal return – 17 so far –  and stunning performances for Melbourne City, it’s hard to disagree. 

But what was his career like before he moved Down Under to become City’s main man? 

Here we piece together his career before he joined City and enjoy again some of his magic from this season in the Hyundai A-League. .

*Fornaroli was dubbed “El Tuna” (the prickly pear) from early in his career. Not because of his on-field demeanour or style but because of his spiky hair style.

Bruno Fornaroli nets the opener in Saturday night's Melbourne Derby.

*Fornaroli comes from the same town (Salto) and was born in the same year as Uruguay and Barcelona superstar Luis Suarez.

*The pair were prodigious talents coming through the youth ranks together at Uruguayan club Nacional.

VIDEO: Fornaroli nets brace in Melbourne Derby

*His exploits at youth level earned him selection in Uruguay’s under-17 side in 2003 (though they didn’t qualify for the U-17 World Cup). 

*His heroes growing up were Brazil legend Ronaldo and ex-Real Madrid and Spain star Raul and he tried to model his game on the pair, especially Ronaldo.

*Fornaroli’s goal-scoring talents came to prominence in 2008 at Nacional, when he scored 17 goals in 37 appearances for the club in the Uruguayan Primera Division and Copa Libertadores. 

Bruno Fornaroli - Nacional.

*Small in stature, Fornaroli was forced to develop other attributes as a youngster coming through the youth ranks. His main strengths were like many other good South American strikers, deceptively strong on the ball, with a deft touch and explosive turn of speed.

*Fornaroli has Italian ancestry and has actually held an Italian passport since 2008, when he moved to Serie A side Sampdoria. It was that spell that he says was pivotal in his career – a time when he played against and with big-name players 

*He struggled to settle in Italy though, become a football nomad for three years with loan spells in Argentina (San Lorenzo), Spain (Recreativo de Huelva) and back home at Nacional between 2008-2012.

*Fornaroli then moved the Greek club Panathinaikos, where he was a team-mate of Victory star Kosta Barbarouses. He actually spoke to the Kiwi about the Hyundai A-League and life in Melbourne before joining Melbourne City.

Melbourne City striker Bruno Fornaroli celebrates scoring against the Phoenix in Round 16.

*Before linking with City following a season back in Uruguay with Danubio, Fornaroli trained at parent club Manchester City’s base in England under former France and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.

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