Uganda Cranes defender Elio Capradossi has signed a short-term contract with Italian Serie B side AC Cittadella, marking his return to professional football.
The 27-year-old center-back, renowned for his defensive composure, will remain with the club until the end of the current season.
Capradossi had been without a club since parting ways with Serie C side AC Lecco earlier this year. Although he has the talent and experience, his lack of club action led Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put to leave him out of recent fixtures against South Africa and Congo.
Nevertheless, Capradossi showcased his international potential with an impressive debut for Uganda in July 2024 during a match against Botswana.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, on March 11, 1996, Capradossi has a rich and diverse background. His father, Corrado Capradossi, is Italian, while his mother is from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This unique heritage made him eligible to play for three countries—Italy, Uganda, and DR Congo—before he ultimately chose to represent Uganda at the international level.
Capradossi began his football journey in 2010 at the AS Roma academy, where he quickly rose through the ranks. He made his senior debut for Roma in 2015 but had limited appearances before being loaned to Italian clubs Bari and Spezia, where he gained prominence.
After delivering strong performances with 20 appearances and three goals at Spezia, the club signed him permanently in 2019. He went on to make 33 additional appearances and scored twice more.
Capradossi also spent time on loan with SPAL in the 2021–2022 season before moving to Cagliari in 2022. However, his career took a temporary setback when he suffered a ruptured left ACL while on international duty with Italy’s U-20 team.
The injury led to several loan spells, but Capradossi’s resilience has allowed him to make a comeback and reestablish himself in professional football.
Now with AC Cittadella, Capradossi has a fresh opportunity to demonstrate his abilities in Serie B. Standing at 1.85 meters tall, his physical presence and wealth of experience are set to strengthen Cittadella’s defense as they strive for success this season.
Uganda Cranes supporters will be hopeful that consistent performances at the club level will secure his place in the national team under coach Paul Put.
