LONDON – It will be an Azure tinged with… Albiceleste. The news is bomb: Robert Mancini, coach of Italy, the reigning European champion, for the challenges against England (at home, 23 March) and Malta (away, 26 March) valid for the Euro 2024 Qualifiers, has also called up Mateo retegui, 23 years old, Tigre striker on loan from Boca Juniors. Both the Tiger and the footballer have already been informed of the decision by ct from elements of the blue staff. In this way, an attempt is made to avoid a hoax as in the case of Marcos Senesi: the defender, long in the sights of the blues, was then summoned by Lionel Scaloni for the Final on June 1st at Wembley, therefore preferring Argentina to Italy. A burning setback that should not be repeated: Retegui, in the event that he plays even just 1 second with the Azzurri, will no longer be able to wear the shirt albiceleste.
Forward problems
The reason for the summons let it transpire all the same Italian coach in recent days: the Azzurri have problems up front. «The problems are serious – explains Mancini -. real estatethe is out and maybe as well Raspadori. There are big question marks. Almost all of our centre-forwards have played very little in recent months. We don’t have one that starts as owner, apart from Gnonto, who has played a little more for Leeds United and can also play up front. For the rest we are in bad shape: Scam is injured, Belotti play little. There are solutions in defense and in midfield. It’s there in attack that we have problems, but not because there’s no talent. They have to play and instead they are deployed with a dropper… ». Here, then, is the solution, which, to those who do not follow the First Division of Argentine soccerit may seem like a crazy bet, but in reality it is a thoughtful and reasoned move: in 6 league games, the Tigre bomber, son of Carlos Chapa retegui (field hockey coach capable of winning the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and who touched the bench of Rosario Central in 2022 as deputy of the Apache Carlitos Tevez), scored the beauty of 6 goals. A crazy average, which could be very, very convenient for Italy.
