Ademola Lookman stole the show in Atalanta’s 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League Final on Wednesday, and Lorenzo Bettoni feels Italy star Federico Chiesa could play a similar role for the Azzurri at Euro 2024.
Chiesa may be Italy’s Lookman at Euro 2024 and not only because he will also partner Gianluca Scamacca in the Azzurri attack.
Lookman made headlines on Wednesday night by scoring a hat-trick in a Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen, giving La Dea their first trophy since 1963.
The third one scored in the second half came from a Scamacca assist and perhaps Italy fans can hope to see something similar for the Azzurri in Germany next month.
Why Chiesa could be Italy’s Lookman at Euro 2024
Luciano Spalletti is expected to use a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation at the Euros, given that many Serie A clubs, including Champions Inter, use a three-man defence, so many players are accustomed to this system.
Chiesa has had highs and lows playing as a centre forward in a 3-5-2 formation at Juventus in 2023-24 but playing winder in a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 system would be different for the Italian star.
Chiesa has never hidden the fact that he prefers to play wide rather than in a central role in attack, which is why his position could be similar to Lookman’s at Atalanta.
The Nigeria international started wide against Leverkusen but was given the freedom to roam in the final third and move closer to Scamacca when needed.
Chiesa will also play with the same strike partner at Euro 2024, but it remains to be seen who will play as an attacking midfielder or right winger for the Azzurri in Germany.
Davide Frattesi, Chiesa and Mateo Retegui started in a front-three in a friendly match against Venezuela in March, while Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nicolò Zaniolo and Giacomo Raspadori were picked in the following game with Ecuador.
Zaniolo won’t be included in the Azzurri squad for Euro 2024 after suffering an ankle injury with Aston Villa, while Scamacca will return to the squad after missing the March games, probably for disciplinary reasons.
His Atalanta teammates Marco Carnesecchi and Giorgio Scalvini are also expected to be included in a 30-man preliminary squad that Spalletti will confirm later today.