Manuel Zlatanov in Ravenna

After father Hristo, two seasons in Ravenna in the two-year period ’94/95 and ’95/96, it is now the turn of his son Manuel to wear the shirt of the Ravenna club, thirty seasons later, thus renewing a tradition that already boasts several illustrious precedents, the last of which concern the Bovolenta family and the Recine family. The 16-year-old spiker from Piacenza, where he was born on 7 March 2008, will consolidate Consar’s attack department as well as becoming a strong element of the youth teams. Zlatanov jr arrives in Ravenna accompanied by the record of being the youngest debutant in the Super League: it happened on 3 December 2023 in the Piacenza-Verona match in which in the third set he entered for a turn on serve, making his debut at the age of 15 years, 8 months and 26 days.
“My father’s background in Ravenna didn’t have much of an impact on my choice – Manuel admits – even though I obviously spoke with him. I had various opportunities, but after having visited the city, met various people from the company and having heard the project that they want to carry forward here, I considered that Ravenna at this moment is the ideal place for me to grow technically but also as a person, given which will be my first season away from home. I arrive with a great desire to improve and increase my wealth of gaming and life experience.”
In addition to being a pillar of the Gas Sales Bluenergy youth team, Zlatanov was a point of reference for the Under 17 national team which won the European Championships last year and which this year aims to reconfirm itself, in the largest Under 18 category, in the event continental tournament which will be held in July in Sofia and Plovdiv, and for which Zlatanov will be in training from 9 to 30 June.
Europeans and beyond, because from 24 to 31 Italy Under 17 will also play the World Cup, again in Bulgaria. “Obviously I hope to be called up and be part of these two great events – hopes Manuel – and it will be a pleasure to be able to spend the summer in the gym. It will be very challenging but I will face it with joy and fun, hoping to reap great satisfaction.”