Atletico Madrid: Raspadori fires up team before Inter clash | OneFootball

Giacomo Raspadori is experiencing his first year at Atletico Madrid, balancing high ambitions with a natural phase of adaptation. Having arrived in the summer after his stint at Napoli, the Italian forward is alternating between brilliant performances and moments of difficulty, with ten appearances overall between La Liga and cups, averaging half an hour per match.

Atletico Madrid, Raspadori rallies his team before facing Inter: “We want to win, we’ll give it our all”

In the Champions League, he has already made his mark with a goal and an assist, while in the league he was crucial in the play that led to Duarte's own goal against Getafe.

Tomorrow, Inter will arrive at the Metropolitano, an opponent Raspadori knows well, coming to Madrid after a high-tension derby. The forward, interviewed by Corriere dello Sport, immediately clarified Simeone's team's mentality: “An important opponent, who will have extra motivation after the derby. But we must and want to win. We know we will face a group that has consistently reached the final stages in the Champions League in recent years. We are ready.”

Champions League, favorites according to Raspadori: “Arsenal very competitive”

Besides the match against Inter, the former Napoli player also shared his thoughts on the European journey of the major teams: “We want to make our mark, of course. From what I've seen so far, I see Arsenal as very competitive.”

An opinion that confirms how closely the forward is following the technical evolution of Europe's big teams, observing them from a completely new perspective now.

Market scenarios: Roma, Marseille, and the choices that could have changed everything

Raspadori then revealed some behind-the-scenes details regarding the transfer sessions before his move to Spain, admitting that several clubs had tried to lure him away from Napoli. “Last January, there was interest from Roma because I wasn't playing much at Napoli, but nothing concrete. Marseille, under De Zerbi, was more persistent, in winter and summer, but nothing came of it.”

The decision was to stay with the Azzurri, a choice also matured thanks to direct discussions with Antonio Conte: “I decided after talking with Conte, who told me that in the long run, I would become important, and that's what happened, even though I unfortunately had to take advantage of some teammates' injuries. Winning the championship again was an incredible achievement.”

The comparison between Conte and Simeone: “Both direct and unfiltered”

The move to Madrid brought Raspadori to work with another coach of great charisma, Diego Simeone. The forward highlighted differences and common points between the two coaches: “They are both tough and demanding. With Conte, there's a bit of tactics and volume, while here there's more intensity and specific work with the ball. Both are clear and direct, they speak to your face without problems. It's essential.”

A comparison that shows how the forward is also growing from a mental standpoint, engaging with two of the most influential figures in modern football.

World Cup, Italy's objective: “We cannot fail”

Raspadori concluded the interview with a thought for the National team. For him, qualifying for the World Cup is an absolute priority: “We cannot fail. I feel Gattuso's trust, but what matters is who plays: we must qualify, period. We are a strong team, with important human and technical values. We’ll give it our all.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.