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Manuel Locatelli

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Manuel Locatelli
Locatelli playing for Juventus in 2021
Personal information
Full name Manuel Locatelli[1]
Date of birth (1998-01-08) 8 January 1998 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Lecco, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Juventus
Number 5
Youth career
2007–2009 Atalanta
2009–2016 AC Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 AC Milan 48 (2)
2018–2019 → Sassuolo (loan) 29 (2)
2019–2023 Sassuolo 67 (4)
2021–2023 → Juventus (loan) 63 (3)
2023– Juventus 72 (3)
International career‡
2013 Italy U15 5 (0)
2014 Italy U16 2 (0)
2013–2015 Italy U17 25 (1)
2015–2016 Italy U19 16 (1)
2017–2019 Italy U21 23 (2)
2020– Italy 30 (3)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Italy
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2020 Europe
UEFA Nations League
Third place 2021 Italy
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Runner-up 2016 Germany
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Runner-up 2022 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:59, 25 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2024

Manuel Locatelli Cavaliere OMRI (born 8 January 1998) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie A club Juventus, whom he also captains, and the Italy national team.

After coming through the club's youth system, Locatelli made his professional debut with AC Milan, helping them win the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana. He moved to Sassuolo in 2018, before joining Juventus in 2021.

Locatelli represents Italy in international football, and was part of the country's victorious UEFA Euro 2020 squad.

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Lecco, Lombardy, Locatelli began his career with Atalanta, before moving to AC Milan at the age of 11 years.[3][4] With the Rossoneri he progressed through each youth category, from Esordienti to Primavera. In March 2015, Locatelli signed his first professional contract with Milan, effective from 1 July 2015 until 30 June 2018.[5][6][7]

AC Milan

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Locatelli received his first ever call-up to Milan's senior team ahead of the away game against Udinese played on 22 September 2015; he, however, remained an unused substitute. Later that season, he was promoted into the first team by the then Milan head coach Siniša Mihajlović.[8]

He made his Serie A debut aged 18, on 21 April 2016, replacing Andrea Poli after 87 minutes in a 0−0 home draw against Carpi.[9] On 14 May 2016 he made his debut as a starter, in the last league match of the season against Roma at the San Siro.[10]

2016–17 season

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He made his season debut in a 1–0 victory over Sampdoria appearing as a second-half substitute.[11] On 2 October 2016, after coming on as a substitute for captain Riccardo Montolivo, Locatelli scored his first Serie A goal with his first ever shot, in a dramatic 4–3 win over Sassuolo. Beginning the season on the bench, Locatelli received his first start of the season on 16 October at Chievo, taking over the deep-lying playmaker role in midfield vacated by Montolivo, who suffered a long-term injury over the international break.[12] On 22 October, Locatelli scored with his second ever Serie A shot on target, the only goal in a rival match against Juventus, a strike with the outside of his right foot that hit the underside of the crossbar, and rifled past keeper Gianluigi Buffon.[13]

Following a series of excellent performances, Locatelli received and accepted the offer to extend his contract until 30 June 2020, with the rise in pay.[14]

On 25 January 2017, Locatelli was sent off for the first time of his career after receiving two yellow cards in 2016–17 Coppa Italia Quarter Final match against Juventus.[15]

2017–18 season

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Locatelli began the season as a starter in the second leg of Milan's Europa League qualification match against CS U Craiova, playing a vital role in Milan's 2–0 win on 3 August 2017.[16] However, Montolivo's eventual recovery combined with the arrival of Lucas Biglia and frequent changes of formation under Vincenzo Montella started to limit his playing time.

In November 2017, Montella was dismissed and replaced by Gennaro Gattuso who also viewed Locatelli as more of a backup for either Biglia or Montolivo than a starting lineup player. He finished the season with only 15 starts (of which only 5 were in Serie A) and 18 sub-ins.

Sassuolo

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In the summer of 2018, Milan loaned in Tiémoué Bakayoko and suggested that Locatelli joins one of the lower-ranking Serie A teams on loan, preferably without a buy-out option. Locatelli agreed to depart yet submitted a full transfer request, later citing a perceived lack of trust in him from the club as the main reason for his decision.[17][18] On 13 August 2018, Locatelli transferred to Sassuolo on loan with an obligation to buy.[19] In his debut season for the neroverdi he made 31 appearances and scored 3 goals (against Catania in Coppa Italia and Cagliari and Chievo Verona in Serie A).[20][21][22]

Juventus

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On 18 August 2021, Juventus announced the signing of Locatelli on an initial two-year loan, with Juventus holding an obligation to then purchase the player for €25 million payable over three years plus €12.5 million in potential add-ons.[23] At Juventus, Locatelli reunited with Massimiliano Allegri, who had once been the head coach of Milan and called up Locatelli to train with the senior team in 2013 aged 15.[24] On 22 August, Locatelli debuted for Juventus in a 2–2 draw against Udinese, coming on as a substitute in the 90th minute.[25] On 26 September, Locatelli scored his first goal for Juventus, the winning goal of a 3–2 home win over Sampdoria.[26] In the 86th minute of play, he scored the lone goal of a 1–0 win against Derby della Mole rivals Torino on 2 October.[27]

On 22 October 2023, exactly seven years since the 1–0 home win for Milan against Juventus in the 2016–17 Serie A, courtesy of the goal by Locatelli, he faced Milan as an opponent and scored the only goal for Juventus in the 1–0 win at San Siro.[28] On 9 November 2023, Locatelli signed a five-year contract extension with Juventus.[29]

During of the 2024–25 season, Locatelli assumed the club's captaincy under coach Thiago Motta.[30] On 25 May 2025, he scored from the penalty spot in a 3–2 away victory over Venezia, securing his club's fourth-place finish in the league and qualification for the Champions League.[31]

International career

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Youth

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Locatelli was part of the Italy U17 team at the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He also took part in the 2016 Under-19 Championship with the under-19 side, as Italy finished runners-up.[32] Locatelli made his debut with the Italy U21 team on 23 March 2017, in a friendly 2–1 win against Poland. In June 2017, he was included in the Italy under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Luigi Di Biagio.[33] Italy were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals on 27 June, following a 3–1 defeat.[34] Locatelli additionally took part in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[35]

Senior

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Locatelli debuted with the Italian senior squad on 7 September 2020, playing as a starter in a 1–0 UEFA Nations League victory against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.[36] On 28 March 2021, Locatelli scored his first goal for Italy, the second of a 2–0 away victory over Bulgaria in a 2022 World Cup qualification match.[37] In June 2021, Locatelli was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini.[38] On 16 June, he scored two goals in Italy's second group stage match, a 3–0 win against Switzerland.[39] Although he started in Italy's first two group games of the tournament, he was later relegated to the bench following the recovery of the injured Marco Verratti.[40] On 6 July, in the semi-final of the competition against Spain, Locatelli came on as a substitute for Nicolò Barella late in the second half of regulation time; following a 1–1 draw after extra-time, he took Italy's first spot-kick in resulting shoot-out, which was saved by Unai Simón, although Italy ultimately advanced to the final 4–2 on penalties.[41]

On 11 July, Locatelli won the European Championship with Italy following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1–1 draw in extra-time; Locatelli made a substitute appearance during the final, coming on for Verratti in the first half of extra-time.[42]

Style of play

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Locatelli is primarily deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, usually operating in a defensive role in front of the team's defence, in a position similar to that of his idol Andrea Pirlo, due to his ability to create chances or dictate the tempo of his team's play in midfield with his passing range. A versatile midfielder, he can also play in a box-to-box role, or as a mezzala in a 4–3–3 formation, although this is not his preferred position; he has occasionally even been used as an attacking midfielder, a position in which he was initially fielded in his youth, before being moved into a deeper midfield role.

While not particularly fast, he is an elegant and quick-thinking player, who possesses excellent vision, passing, ball control, technique, and dribbling skills, as well as a powerful and accurate shot from long range. His reading of the game, defensive work-rate, tactical intelligence, and ball-winning abilities are also optimal for a defensive midfielder. His playing style has been compared to that of Argentine midfielder Fernando Redondo, but with more of an offensive mindset, due to his ability to make late attacking runs off the ball from behind; he has also been likened to other playmakers such as Xavi, Zinedine Zidane, and Demetrio Albertini.[43][4][44] Not long before Locatelli signed with Juventus, former long-term club player Alessio Tacchinardi compared him to himself and Antonio Conte, calling Locatelli a mix of both.[45] Considered to be a promising young player, in 2015 The Guardian named him one of the 50 best young players in the world born in 1998.[46]

Personal life

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On 21 June 2022, he married Thessa Lachovic.[47] On 16 October, his wife announced that she was pregnant.[48]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 25 May 2025[49][50]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coppa Italia Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AC Milan 2015–16 Serie A 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
2016–17 25 2 2 0 — 1[a] 0 28 2
2017–18 21 0 3 0 9[b] 0 — 33 0
Total 48 2 5 0 9 0 1 0 63 2
Sassuolo (loan) 2018–19 Serie A 29 2 2 1 — — 31 3
Sassuolo 2019–20 33 0 1 0 — — 34 0
2020–21 34 4 0 0 — — 34 4
Sassuolo total 96 6 3 1 — — 99 7
Juventus (loan) 2021–22 Serie A 31 3 4 0 7[c] 0 1[a] 0 43 3
2022–23 32 0 4 0 13[d] 0 — 49 0
Juventus 2023–24 36 1 4 0 — — 40 1
2024–25 36 2 2 0 9[c] 0 1[a] 0 48 2
Juventus total 135 6 14 0 29 0 2 0 180 6
Career total 279 14 22 1 38 0 3 0 342 15
  1. ^ a b c Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 17 November 2024[50][51]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Italy 2020 6 0
2021 14 3
2022 4 0
2023 2 0
2024 4 0
Total 30 3
Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Locatelli goal[52]
List of international goals scored by Manuel Locatelli
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 28 March 2021 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria 8  Bulgaria 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 16 June 2021 Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy 12   Switzerland 1–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2020
3 2–0

Honours

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AC Milan

Juventus

Italy U19

Italy

Individual

Orders

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 60" [Official Statement No. 60] (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 9 October 2018. p. 3. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Manuel Locatelli: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Giovani talenti: Locatelli, la grande speranza Milan che studia da Xavi" [Young talents: Locatelli, the great hope of Milan who is studying to be like Xavi.]. Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale (in Italian). 29 March 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b Simone Gambino (2 October 2016). "Manuel Locatelli: il regista del Milan del futuro, sulle orme di Donnarumma" [Manuel Locatelli: the playmaker of Milan's future, following in Donnarumma's footsteps.] (in Italian). Goal.com. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  5. ^ "UFFICIALE: rinnovati i contratti dei giovani Llamas, Locatelli e Cutrone" [Official: the contracts of young players Llamas, Locatelli, and Cutrone have been renewed.]. Milan News (in Italian). Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  6. ^ Rolfi, Thomas (31 March 2015). "A.C MILAN COMUNICATO UFFICIALE: Donnarumma, Cutrone e Locatelli rinnovano fino al 2018" [A.C. MILAN OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Donnarumma, Cutrone, and Locatelli renew until 2018.]. Milan News (in Italian). Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Gigio, Loca e Terminator: il Milan blinda la colonna vertebrale del futuro. E a luglio..." [Gigio, Loca, and Terminator: Milan secures the backbone of the future. And in July...]. Milan News (in Italian). Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Milan, Mihajlovic promuove il 17enne Locatelli: esordio in vista?" [Milan, Mihajlovic promotes 17-year-old Locatelli: debut on the horizon?]. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Milan vs. Carpi - 21 April 2016 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Milan-Roma 1-3: Salah-El Shaarawy-Emerson, a Brocchi resta la Coppa Italia". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Sampdoria 0-1 AC Milan: Carlos Bacca scores winner for visitors". Sky Sport. 16 September 2016.
  12. ^ Paul, Sumeet (12 October 2016). "With Montolivo injured, is it time for Milan to start Locatelli?". ESPN FC.
  13. ^ Rathborn, Jack (22 October 2016). "European round-up: Manuel Locatelli screamer downs Juventus and Bayern cruise". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Milan News: rinnova Locatelli, il numero 73 al 73'" [Milan News: Locatelli renews, number 73 at the 73rd minute] (in Italian). 3 October 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Calendario e Risultati | Stagione 2016-17 | Quarti" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Player Ratings: Milan 2-0 Craiova". Football Italia. 3 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Locatelli: 'AC Milan didn't believe in me'" [Locatelli: "AC Milan didn't believe in me."]. www.calciomercato.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Milan: as Chelsea's Bakayoko inches closer, Locatelli could join Sassuolo". www.calciomercato.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Official statement: Manuel Locatelli". acmilan.com. Associazione Calcio Milan. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  20. ^ U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (6 December 2018). Coppa Italia | Sassuolo-Catania 2-1 Highlights. Retrieved 19 April 2025 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (27 January 2019). Sassuolo-Cagliari 3-0 | Highlights 2018/19. Retrieved 19 April 2025 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (5 April 2019). Sassuolo-Chievo 4-0 | Highlights 2018/19. Retrieved 19 April 2025 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "Official: Locatelli joins Juventus! - Juventus". Juventus.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Matri: «Locatelli e Pogba i migliori talenti che ho avuto come compagni»" [Matri: "Locatelli and Pogba are the best talents I've had as teammates."] (in Italian). 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  25. ^ Munno, Mauro (22 August 2021). "Udinese-Juve 2-2: gli errori di Szczesny condannano al pari" [Udinese-Juve 2-2: Szczesny's mistakes condemn the match to a draw]. Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  26. ^ Baridon, Marco (26 September 2021). "Juve Sampdoria 3-2: Dybala, Bonucci e Locatelli per il successo di misura". Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  27. ^ Ronchi, Stefano (2 October 2021). "Serie A, Torino-Juve 0–1: Locatelli decide il derby della Mole" [Serie A, Torino-Juve 0-1: Locatelli decides the Turin derby]. Sportmediaset (in Italian). Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  28. ^ "MILAN VS JUVENTUS". www.legaseriea.it. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  29. ^ "Manuel Locatelli renews until 2028!". Juventus FC. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Why Thiago Motta picked Manuel Locatelli for Juventus captaincy". Juventus FC. 3 March 2025.
  31. ^ Bettoni, Lorenzo (25 May 2025). "Serie A | Venezia 2-3 Juventus: Bianconeri seal top-four finish". Football Italia.
  32. ^ "Finale Europeo Under 19, Francia-Italia 4-0: Augustin, Blas, Tousart e Diop" [Under 19 European Championship Final, France-Italy 4-0: Augustin, Blas, Tousart and Diop]. La Gazzetta dello Sport - Tutto il rosa della vita (in Italian). 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  33. ^ "U21: Italy squad for Euros named". Football Italia. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  34. ^ James Horncastle (28 June 2017). "Italy fall to familiar foe Spain at U21 Euros but there is hope for the future". ESPN FC. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Parte l'avventura europea: Di Biagio ufficializza la lista dei 23 Azzurrini" [The European adventure begins: Di Biagio makes the list of 23 Azzurrini official]. Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. 6 June 2019.
  36. ^ "Olanda-Italia, Mancini: "Ragazzi straordinari, Zaniolo? Spero nulla di grave"". Sky Sport Italy (in Italian). 7 September 2020. Tra i più felici della serata c'è sicuramente Manuel Locatelli, all'esordio in Nazionale maggiore. [Among the happiest of the evening was certainly Manuel Locatelli, debuting for the senior national team.]
  37. ^ Campanale, Susy (28 March 2021). "Bulgaria 0-2 Italy: Azzurri conquer Sofia - Football Italia". football-italia.net. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  38. ^ "Mancini names uncapped striker Raspadori in final Italy Euro 2020 squad". Reuters. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Euro 2020: Italy 3-0 Switzerland - Manuel Locatelli scores twice in one-sided win". BBC Sport. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  40. ^ The Athletic Staff (26 June 2021). "Manuel Locatelli left out by Italy against Austria in favour of Marco Verratti". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  41. ^ "Euro 2020: Italy beat Spain on penalties to reach final". BBC Sport. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  42. ^ McNulty, Phil (10 July 2021). "Euro 2020 final: England beaten by Italy on penalties". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  43. ^ "Giovani talenti: Locatelli, la grande speranza Milan che studia da Xavi" (in Italian). calciomercato.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  44. ^ Other sources:
  45. ^ "Tacchinardi: "Locatelli è un mix tra me e Conte. E con Allegri si completerà"" [Tacchinardi: "Locatelli is a mix between me and Conte. And with Allegri he will be complete"]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 13 August 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  46. ^ sport, Guardian (7 October 2015). "Next Generation 2015: 50 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  47. ^ JuventusNews24, Redazione (21 June 2022). "Matrimonio Locatelli: il centrocampista della Juve si è sposato con la sua Thessa – FOTO". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ "Locatelli, derby d'amore: dalla proposta al dolce annuncio" [Locatelli, love derby: from the proposal to the sweet announcement]. tuttosport.com (in Italian). 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  49. ^ "Giocatore - Manuel Locatelli" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  50. ^ a b c "M. Locatelli". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  51. ^ "Locatelli, Manuel" (in Italian). FIGC. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  52. ^ "Manuel Locatelli". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  53. ^ "LA JUVENTUS VINCE LA COPPA ITALIA FRECCIAROSSA" [JUVENTUS WINS THE FRECCIAROSSA ITALIAN CUP] (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  54. ^ "France U19 vs. Italy U19 – Football Match Summary – July 24, 2016 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  55. ^ McNulty, Phil (11 July 2021). "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  56. ^ "Italy 2–1 Belgium: Azzurri secure third place at Nations League finals". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  57. ^ "A Locatelli e Mancini il Premio Bulgarelli Number 8" [Bulgarelli Number 8 Award to Locatelli and Mancini]. Corriere dello Sport – Stadio (in Italian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  58. ^ "EA Sports FC 25 – Serie A Team of the Season". Serie A. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  59. ^ "Mattarella ha conferito onorificenze motu proprio ai giocatori e allo staff della Nazionale vincitrice del campionato europeo" [Mattarella has conferred honors motu proprio to the players and staff of the national team that won the European championship]. Quirinale (in Italian). Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
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