Valentín Carboni
Valentín Carboni is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Racing Club, on loan from Inter Milan, and the Argentina national team.
Club career
Early years
Born in Buenos Aires, in his early childhood Carboni played futsal at the grassroots team Club Lafuente in Lanús; in 2013, aged eight, he started playing football by joining the youth academy of Lanús.In July 2019, Carboni joined the youth sector of Italian side Catania, together with his older brother Franco and his father Ezequiel, who had just taken on a double role as youth coach and head of youth development at the club.
Inter Milan
2020–2022: Youth sector
One year later, after having attracted the interest of several high-profile European clubs, the midfielder and his brother both joined Serie A club Inter Milan, for an estimated €300,000 transfer fee.Carboni quickly came through the Nerazzurri
2022–23 season: First team debut
At the start of the 2022–23 campaign, while keeping featuring for the Primavera squad in the national league and in the UEFA Youth League, Carboni started training with Inter Milan's first team under head coach Simone Inzaghi. The midfielder subsequently made his professional debut on 1 October 2022, at 17 years and 206 days, coming on as a substitute for Federico Dimarco in the 88th minute of a 2–1 league loss against Roma. Then, on 1 November, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, replacing Joaquín Correa in the 76th minute of a 2–0 group stage loss against Bayern Munich.In July 2023, Carboni signed a new long-term contract with Inter Milan.
2023–24 season: Loan to Monza
On 15 July 2023, Carboni officially joined fellow Serie A club Monza on a season-long loan. On 1 December, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 home league defeat to Juventus.2024–25 season: Loan to Marseille and ACL injury
On 7 August 2024, Carboni joined French side Olympique de Marseille on a season-long loan, with an option to buy and a counter-option in favour of Inter. In October 2024, during the international break, Carboni suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for a lengthy period of time.2025: Return to Inter
On 11 February 2025, Carboni's loan move was terminated early to continue his rehabilitation process with the Nerazzurri in preparation for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Later that year, on 21 June, he scored his first goal for the club in the stoppage time of a 2–1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds during the FIFA Club World Cup.2025–26 season: Loan to Genoa
On 18 July 2025, Carboni joined fellow Serie A club Genoa on a season-long loan. He made his official debut for the Grifone on 15 August 2025, starting in the first round of the Coppa Italia against Vicenza. Genoa won the match 3–0, with Carboni scoring the opening goal.2026: Loan to Racing Club
On 8 January 2026, Carboni's loan spell at Genoa was terminated, and he subsequently joined Argentine side Racing Club on loan until 31 December 2026.International career
Thanks to his dual citizenship, Carboni is eligible to represent both Italy and Argentina at the international level.Italy youth
In 2019, he was involved in several training camps with the Italian under-15 national team; then, he proceeded to play for the Italian under-17 national team between 2021 and 2022.Argentina youth
In March 2022, he switched allegiance to Argentina and received his first official call-up to the Argentine senior national team, having been included in the preliminary list for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Venezuela and Ecuador.In May 2022, he was included by head coach Javier Mascherano in the Argentine under-20 squad that took part in the Maurice Revello Tournament in France, as the Albiceleste eventually finished in fifth place, after winning the play-off match against Japan.
In October 2022, he was included by head coach Lionel Scaloni in Argentina's preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, although he did not make the cut to the final 26-man list.
In March 2023, he was called up again to the Argentina senior national team for two friendly matches against Panama and Curaçao.
In May of the same year, he was included in the final squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. On the debut on 20 May he scored his first goal in a 2–1 victory against Uzbekistan.
Argentina senior
Carboni made his debut for the senior Argentina national team on 26 March 2024 in a friendly against Costa Rica, substituting Ángel Di María in the 82nd minute.In June 2024, and with only two matches played with Argentina senior team, Carboni was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América.
Style of play
Carboni is a left-footed attacking midfielder who mainly operates in the number 10 role, but can also play as a centre-forward, an inverted winger on the right side, or a mezzala. An elegant, composed, and creative player, he frequently moves between his team's attacking lines, whether he keeps possession with his ball control, finds team-mates via through passes or first-touch combinations, or directly goes for the shot from short or long range.Despite being mainly regarded for his offensive contributions, thanks to his vision, his individual technique, and his dribbling skills, he has proved to be effective in the defensive side of his game, as well, especially because of his work rate.
He named his fellow countryman Lionel Messi as his biggest source of inspiration.
In September 2022, Carboni was included in The Guardian
Personal life
Carboni is the son of former Argentine footballer Ezequiel Carboni.His older brother Franco is a footballer himself: the two played together in the youth sectors of Lanús, Catania and Inter Milan.
He also has two younger siblings, Cristiano and Alma.
Honours
Inter Milan U19- Campionato Primavera 1: 2021–22
- Coppa Italia: 2022–23
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2022
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2022–23