16th Italian with debut goal since 2000
To score on his debut for the national team is a feat that only occasionally succeeds. The latest addition to this club is Mateo Retegui, who scored his first goal for Italy on Thursday night. In the 56th minute of the European Championship qualifier against England, he reduced the deficit to 1: 2, but in the end there was a defeat, which is why the 23-year-old was divided in his feelings after the game against “Sky Sport Italia”. “I’m not happy because we lost a very important game, but I’m happy about the goal.”
The Boca Juniors centre-forward, currently on loan, has become the 16th Italian since 2000 to score in his senior debut. His notable operations include Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Cassano. “It would have been important to start with a win but I’m still happy with my debut with a goal. It is an honor for my family and for me to represent these colours,” continued Retegui, who had “waited a long time” to receive a call from coach Roberto Mancini.
The experienced 58-year-old, who became European champion with Italy in 2021, advised the attacker before the game to have fun and stay calm. Mancini, on the other hand, explained afterwards that Retegui still needs time to adapt to the team’s playing style, but that he sees great potential in him. “He reminds me of Batistuta when he first came to Italy,” Mancini said. Retegui was the Liga Profesional de Fútbol’s top scorer with 19 goals last season and he’s leading the list again this season.
Also for Aniello Luciano, Lead of Content of Transfermarkt.it, the Argentine-born striker, who comes from the Boca Juniors academy, can be an important pillar in the Italian attack in the future. “Retegui’s call-up is in line with Italy’s desire to find a key striker who may have different qualities than the Azzurri of recent times. Mancini’s choice came as a surprise, but she has clear principles, whether you like it or not. In the game against England, the Tigre center forward showed all the difficulties of a player who hardly knows European football and the mechanics of his new national team, but also qualities that can help Italy out of the crisis. He definitely has a unique mix of factors for the Italian attack: power, speed, depth of attack, instinct and associative play. He’s certainly not the savior of the country, but he can be a good choice. The national team has been missing a classic number 9 for too long.”
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GOOOAAAL! Retegui on his debut! #ITAENG 1-2 (56′)#azzurri #VivoAzzurro #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/y9X4UcXn90
— Italy (@Azzurri_En) March 23, 2023
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