Gianluca Frabotta: The intrigue around the former Juventus man who hardly featured for West Brom

The left back arrived from Juventus having been touted for QPR earlier in the summer transfer window. Albion then made their move for a man who had played a number of games with the Italian giants.

He had even appeared alongside Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at the Old Lady, having initially signed for Juventus C from Bologna.

Loan spells followed before Albion made their move - in a summer of change, the first under new owner Shilen Patel.

There was a lot of excitement for Frabotta to play. But he made just a mere six appearances for Albion and parts of his time at the club were covered with intrigue.

His signing was reportedly for a fee - although nothing was ever revealed, simply announced under the ‘undisclosed fee’ line.

For many he was seen as a first choice left back, especially with Albion not having one with Conor Townsend being sold to Ipswich Town.

But, with Torbjorn Heggem at left back, rather than his natural central position, Frabotta was in the cold.

And it remained that way, right throughout his time at the club.

He featured a few times for the under 21s - but those performances only underlined why he wasn’t getting first team action.

Many Albion fans wanted to see more of Frabotta. Why? It wasn’t based on evidence, but possibly more down to the fact of where he had come from, and the fact they had hardly seen him play.

During his time at the club, Albion fans spotted a rather curious social media account online, pushing out positive information and pictures from training on the rarely seen full back.

Suggestions were it was a family member - but his calls fell on deaf ears, as you would expect.

Eventually Frabotta left by mutual consent just 12 months into a three year deal.

Given the games he played, the opinions heard about him, and the fact he failed to really feature under two permanent managers and two interims, it is safe to say he just wasn’t good enough.

But that doesn’t get away from the point there was a strange intrigue around Frabotta - despite the fact hardly played.

Where is he now?

Having left Albion by mutual consent late in the summer of 2025 - he signed for Serie B side Cesena.

And it seems to have been the best move for all parties, and certainly for Frabotta, who went back to his native Italy.

He has made 24 appearances for his new side in all competitions, scoring four goals and picking up one assist.