Raspadori: ‘Gattuso slaps were genuine, I got one on the back of the neck’ | OneFootball

Giacomo Raspadori confirms Gennaro Gattuso’s ‘slaps’ were not just metaphorical, but literal, to shake Italy out of their rut. ‘I got one on the back of the neck.’

The new Atletico Madrid forward came off the bench and immediately contributed an assist followed by a goal 90 seconds later.

It was a crucial cameo in the 5-0 victory against Estonia, with goals scored by Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui (twice), Raspadori and Alessandro Bastoni.

Raspadori not kidding about Gattuso hands-on encouragement

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gesture during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

This couldn’t have been a better debut for Gattuso, who Bastoni said had given the squad “a few slaps” to wake them up. Did he mean that metaphorically?

“No, he gave us genuine slaps, I got one on the back of the neck,” confessed Raspadori to Sky Sport Italia.

“Over these days, he has given us a lot of determination and grit, because we are talented players, we’ve just got to get it all out there on the pitch and prove it. I think we had a concrete game from start to finish today, as five goals are not easy to score against a team like this.

“We’ve got to believe that we are on the right track to go forward.”

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Giacomo Raspadori of Italy celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Gattuso was hired precisely because he was part of the 2006 World Cup winning squad, and was a player who focused more on attitude and heart than quality in his day.

“I was fortunate to watch him play, so I recognise it all in the way he moves in training now, the way he talks to us both as a group and one-on-one. He shows how important the Azzurri jersey is and what we represent.

“We did well to embrace that quickly and prepare in the best way, now we’ve got to keep it going.”

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: (EDITORS NOTE: In this photo taken from a remote camera from behind the goal) Moise Kean of Italy scores his team’s a first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Italy also started a new 4-2-3-1 formation using multiple attacking players simultaneously, with Raspadori coming on to replace Mattia Zaccagni.

“We know that we need to score more goals, so we’ve got to try to force it. Estonia proved how difficult they were to break down, and until we got that first goal, it was really tough.”

Raspadori left Napoli and Serie A this summer for a new adventure with Atletico Madrid, so how is it being back on Italian soil?

“It is certainly a fantastic experience in every way, both for sporting and personal growth. I am very happy to have made this choice, but right now I am 100 per cent focused on the Nazionale.”