Peru's Foreign Affairs Ministry has reported that
began the procedures —to be recognized as Peruvian— in his hometown city of Turin on Monday.
"Today, the administrative act for the enrollment of citizen Gianluca Lapadula in the Peruvian Birth List by the Consulate General of Peru in Turin, Italy, took place. It is the preliminary step towards obtaining his ID card and passport," the Peruvian Government agency announced via Twitter.
This morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Mario Lopez announced that the professional athlete had started the corresponding procedures at the consulate for the accreditation of his Peruvian nationality.
Thus, Lapadula will be allowed to get a national identity document (DNI) and have the possibility of being officially included in Peru's national soccer squad.
The 30-year-old striker has already played for Italian clubs Pescara, AC Milan, Genoa, and Lecce during the past five years.
Born to a Peruvian mother, he has made public his admiration and love for his roots on more than one occasion.