Italian striker Rolando Bianchi failed to make an impression during his brief spell with Manchester City, but he certainly wasn’t short of confidence judging by his current social media posts
Former Manchester City star Rolando Bianchi may not have left a significant mark on the club – and fans might find it hard to recognise him today.
The Italian striker had a successful career in Italy before transferring to the Premier League in 2007. City reportedly paid £8.8million for the forward, who had scored 20 goals in 49 matches for Reggina prior to his high-profile move.
However, his stint in England was short-lived, lasting only six months during which he scored five goals in 25 games before being loaned out to Lazio in the January transfer window.
While Bianchi, now 42, didn’t meet City fans’ expectations, his post-football life has been quite interesting, with the former player embarking on several ventures since retiring from football in 2017.
He hasn’t completely abandoned his sporting interests, as he’s an enthusiastic beach volleyball player and often shares his exploits on Instagram. His active lifestyle undoubtedly contributes to his impressively fit physique, which he proudly displays online, reports the Express.
In the business world, the ex-Italy Under-21 international owns a vineyard in northern Italy, where he originates from. The vineyard produces his own wine, named Il Risveglio Valcalepio Rosso, a red wine reputed to have dry and bold flavours.
In addition to his interest in wine, Bianchi is also a horse owner, with his Instagram account filled with pictures of him with his horses. One of his social media posts depicts the ex-footballer assisting one of his horses during birth. The caption reads “La bellezza della NATURA,” which translates to “the beauty of NATURE”.
Even though it’s been eight years since he hung up his boots, Bianchi continues to be a respected figure in Torino, where he netted 77 goals in 180 matches over a five-year period.
During his tenure at the Serie A club, he secured his place as their 10th highest goal scorer of all time. Throughout his 17-year professional career, Bianchi shared the pitch with a host of talented players including Gianfranco Zola, Nicola Amuroso and Dietmar Hamann.
However, when quizzed about the best player he ever teamed up with, he gave an unexpected response, naming former City colleague Micah Richards. Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said: “I played with a lot of good players, Gianfranco Zola of course, but he was nearing the end of his career.
“Nicola Amuroso in my heart because he was also a striker and he is a good friend of mine. But I would have to say Micah Richards. He was younger than me but he was a top player. I think I am lucky because I got to play with a lot of great players.”