Domenico Berardi has just completed his best season in Serie A and Lorenzo Bettoni expects him to shine at the Euros, if he’ll be given enough playing time.
The 26-year-old scored 31 goals in his first two seasons in Serie A: 16 in his first one (2013-14) and 15 in the second one.
The attacking winger had been linked with several top clubs in Italy at that time: Juventus, Inter and Roma above all. He snubbed a move to the Allianz Stadium in 2016, explaining that his heart “is beating for Inter” and that he grew up watching videos of the Brazilian Ronaldo.
“In 2010 I was 15 and I celebrated the Champions League victory in the street with my friends,” he added.
With 291 appearances and 105 goals to his name, Berardi is one of the legends of Sassuolo, having played every season in the Neroverdi’s history in Italy’s top flight.
Berardi made his senior Italy debut under Mancini in a 3-1 defeat against France in 2018 and has played ten games in an Azzurri shirt so far.
He missed the last two games against Bulgaria and Lithuania because of an adductor injury.
However, a call-up to the final 26-man squad list for the Euros can’t even be questioned after scoring 17 goals in 30 Serie A appearances this season.
Euro 2020 will be the first international trophy of his career. Although he may not be a regular starter, you can expect him to add creativity in the attacking third whenever Mancini will allow him to do so.
Either he or Federico Chiesa will start at right-winger with Lorenzo Insigne on the opposite side and Ciro Immobile or Andrea Belotti up front.
Berardi can create trouble for opponents cutting inside from the right flank and finishing or providing the final assist with his trademark left foot.
He is an incredibly complete winger. He may not be the fastest one of the tournament, but he is surely one of the most technically skilled, not to mention his vision. No coincidence he registered 56 assists in 238 Serie A appearances with the Neroverdi.
Berardi dreamed of earning a call-up for the 2014 World Cup after his first season in Serie A. He had to wait four more years to play his first game with the Azzurri. Now the time has come to show his skills on an international stage.