Parma’s Mateo Pellegrino could be the next Argentine star from Serie A | OneFootball

Some months ago, Mateo Pellegrino was a lesser-known commodity in Serie A. He had arrived at Parma from Velez Sarsfield towards the end of the January transfer window. There were initial question marks about whether he could make it in the Italian top-flight but they have been firmly dispelled.

So far at Parma, the 24-year-old striker has ten goals in all competitions. He has played only 27 games in this period, having found the back of the net four times in 12 Serie A games in the ongoing campaign.

Carlos Cuesta’s side have won two games this season – against Verona and Torino. Pellegrino has been a key reason for those wins, scoring a brace in the two ties. Beyond him, Parma haven’t shown much of a goalscoring threat and despite a lack of service, the Argentine is thriving.

Pellegrino’s playing style

Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall, it is easy to build a stereotype around Pellegrino. It is true – he thrives in the final third and has a nose for goal. He relies a lot on his movement to sniff out chances and get at the end of passes to find the back of the net. His ability to sense where the ball will land is vital to what he is as a player, as he often comes up with one-touch finishes.

But the Pellegrino is much more than that. He has a surprisingly silky left-foot which is constantly seen when he is linking up with his face to goal. There is still work to be done when he links up play with his back to goal but Pellegrino can often be found inside the box, looking to get at the end off crosses. 

And he fights for those headers like his life depends on it, making him a very fearsome competitor inside the box.

Future?

It is fair to say that the ex-Velez player is far from a one-dimensional player unlike Lorenzo Lucca. He offers more than just goalscoring – especially if used to strengths.

Parma don’t really have the most feared attacking system, especially after having lost a glut of key players in the summer – especially Denis Man. A team that plays on the frontfoot and uses Pellegrino solely around the final third would bring the most out of him, especially if he constantly finds himself at the end of passes.

There has been suggestions about interest from Milan, who want a new striker in January. Parma are unlikely to get too better as the season wears on and that is why an exit from the club will make sense for Pellegrino.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN