Retegui leads Italy’s revival, Mancini’s legacy lives on from Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

Mateo Retegui has become a mainstay of the Italian National team thanks to the foresight of Roberto Mancini, who called him up for the first time when no one in Italy knew him.

Italy, Retegui as a symbol of rebirth: Mancini's legacy even from Arabia

His story tells how an Argentine striker, an Italian citizen by descent, can transform into a pillar of the Azzurri team even after moving to Saudi Arabia.

Mancini's intuition: choosing Retegui from Argentina

Retegui's debut in the National team took place during the match against England in Naples, a call-up that surprised fans and insiders. The choice seemed almost provocative: calling up an Argentine striker starting for Tigre, unknown to the Italian public, but with Italian roots – his maternal grandfather from Canicattì and his paternal one from Sestri Levante.

With the experience of Euro 2021 behind him and the disappointment of missing out on Qatar 2022, Mancini was looking for a forward-thinking solution for a transitioning offensive department. The choice of Retegui was not accidental: it represented a concrete response to the scarcity of Italian forwards ready to lead the Azzurri attack.

From Serie A to Saudi Arabia: a growth path

Thanks to the National team call-up, Retegui made the big leap to Serie A, first with Genoa and then with Atalanta, establishing himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the league. Subsequently, he accepted the transfer to Al-Qadisiya in Saudi Arabia, with a total fee of 67 million for the club and a personal contract of 20 million annually for four years.

Despite the transfer potentially seeming like a hindrance to his international career, Retegui has managed to reconcile the overseas experience with the National team, always being present when Gennaro Gattuso needed his contribution.

The key role with Gattuso: a complete striker

Retegui has proven perfect in systems with two strikers, adapting to both three and four-man defensive lines. His ability to communicate with an offensive partner, alternating between deep movements and playing to meet, makes him a complete striker, capable of being a forward reference or varying across the offensive front.

The last goal against Israel, built and finished personally, demonstrated how crucial he is for an Italy in the reconstruction phase. His performance underscores the decisive contribution of a player who, despite playing far from Italy, remains an indispensable element of the team.

Retegui, symbol of continuity and Azzurri rebirth

The Italo-Argentine today represents one of Mancini's most important legacies. Thanks to his versatility and determination, Retegui embodies Italy's hope of returning to compete at the highest international levels, aspiring to a future World Cup after 12 years of absence. His story echoes that of other Italo-Argentine champions like Monti, Orsi, and Camoranesi, capable of leaving an indelible mark on the history of the National team.

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