From Federico Chiesa’s card to Gianluca Scamacca’s monster: Spalletti has a problem that costs 200 million euros
Italy’s European Championship ends after 4 matches. There National managed to get past the group stage by the skin of their teeth, thanks to a goal from Zaccagni in the 98th minute. The only goal by a striker in the expedition to Germany. And the future for the Azzurri is rather bleak.
Italy has had a problem with their offensive department for several years. By the number of goals scored with clubs, Ciro Immobile should have played a central role. The Lazio captain, however, has struggled a lot in Azzurro (only 17 goals in 57 appearances), especially in recent years. Indeed, after a season below his standards, Spalletti preferred not to call him up for the national team.
But beyond Ciro, Italy has produced many mediocre strikers in the last 10 years. Or in the meantime some talent has been lost along the way. To shake things up and look for a new striker, coach Mancini has drawn from Argentina Mateo Reteguinow a Genoa centre forward and ready to take on European football. But even for him, the trip to EURO 2024 was rather disappointing.
How much are the attackers called up by Spalletti for EURO 2024 worth
Only of the six forwards called up by Spalletti for EURO 2024 Matthias Zaccagni it went online. Among the biggest disappointments of this European Championship we must certainly mention it Gianluca Scamaccaalready defined by the lazy coach. And maybe after 4 games we understood what he meant.
Yet, our striker was coming from a moment of exceptional form. A protagonist with Gasp’s Atalanta in the championship and in the Europa League, author of 19 seasonal goals in over 40 games. Average not very high, but decent to present himself at the event as the main striker of his country. His performances, however, were decidedly subpar. He has room for growth, but a shake-up is needed. And above all, many doubts remain about his market valuation. Atalanta bought him Scam for 25 million and in case of transfer he would ask between 50 and 60 million. Double or even more.
The Italian shop is expensive, which is why Serie A clubs try to buy mostly foreigners. Matthew Reteguifor example, is already priced around 40 million after just one year in Serie A and 9 goals overall with Genoa. He’s not far behind RaspadoriNapoli’s reserve for two seasons in a row, author of just 6 goals in the last year. Valuation? He was paid around 30 million, De Laurentiis will not ask for less than 35.
And again, given that Zaccagni has recently renewed his contract, if Lazio were to suddenly sell their winger they would be unlikely to accept an offer lower than 20 million. His seasonal haul was rather meager: only 6 goals in the league and one in the Italian Cup. El Shaarawy even worse: 3 goals in Serie A. But the Pharaoh has a decidedly lower valuation (between 5 and 10 million), linked to his age and the contract with Roma which will end next season.
Then there is the Church chapteranother player whose contract is expiring and no longer at the centre of the Juventus project. The club has spoken to his agent, who is authorised to look for clubs willing to offer at least 35-40 million to let him go. To Thiago Motta the former Viola winger is not essential and if there is a way to raise money, Chiesa is the right man to let go. It was a really difficult year for Federico, who struggled a lot with Allegri in a role that wasn’t exactly his and who, even with Spalletti in the national team, never fully lit up. He was supposed to be the star of our offensive department, the one who jumps the man and creates superiority, but he seems very far from what we saw at Euro 2020 with Mancini.
In short, in total Italy’s attacking department would cost 200 million euros. And he has produced just one goal in four games. A spontaneous reflection arises on the exaggerated evaluations of the cards of our footballers, inflated as soon as they score a goal or register a performance that is just above satisfactory. This country lacks talent and this national team lacks a striker. 100 million for two center forwards that they don’t score is something that goes out of the ordinary.
