Openjobmetis Varese Basketball announces that it has signed Matteo Canavesi, the 204 cm Forward. Born in Gallarate on August 20, 1986, Canavesi has signed a contract for 1 year that will bind him to the Red & Whites until the end of the 2016/2017 season. He grew up in the Varese Basketball youth teams, and had already been trained by Coach Paolo Moretti in Pistoia in Serie A2 in 2009/2010. Last season he played in Serie A2 at Trieste. By signing the contract, the Red & Whites bring back a ‘made in Varese’ player and it completes the acquisition of its tall players.

Paolo Moretti, Coach, Openjobmetis Varese Basketball: «I think of Matteo as a player who will be our harmoniser, an athlete who is ready to do whatever it takes to help the team both on and off court. The enthusiasm and the desire to play for his city’s club will make Matteo an essential factor in the group's formation and of the season».

Matteo Canavesi, Power Forward, Openjobmetis Varese Basketball: «This summer I saw a message from Coach Paolo Moretti telling me about an opportunity to play for Varese. Initially I thought he was joking. Then when we spoke on the phone and he told me that there was actually a real chance to sign with Varese Basketball, it nearly gave me a heart attack. Playing for the team where I grew up is something that makes me very proud – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a dream come true. For a guy who grew up in the city and who has Varese in his heart, wearing a Red & White jersey is something really special».

Player Profile

Date of birth: August 20, 1986

Place of birth: Gallarate (Varese)

Height: 204 cm

Role: Power Forward

Career

Beginning at the Red & White youth teams with whom he won the BAM championships, Cadets and Juniors, at only 18 years old, Matteo Canavesi moved to Montegranaro, the team with whom he signed a multiyear contract amassing 95 appearances between Lega2 and Serie A from 2004 to 2008. After two knee injuries that kept him side-lined for the rest of the 2007/2008 season, the Marche club first lent him to Imola and then, in the 2009/2010 season, to the court of Coach Paolo Moretti at Pistoia where, in 34 appearances, he totted up 6.6 points with 4 rebounds and 1.4 steals on average. This excellent last season under the direction of the Arezzo coach pushed Montegranaro to bet on him once again for the Serie A in 2010/2011 by placing him in the roster in an exchange with Dejan Ivanov. Here he made 14 appearances, before moving on loan to Ferrara in March 2011. In successive years, Matteo wore the jerseys of Bologna, Latina, Scafati, Poderosa Montegranaro, Casalpusterlengo and Venafro, before signing with Trieste at the beginning of last season, where he scored 4.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 34 appearances, to lead the team to the quarterfinals in the playoffs promotion.