epa08814451 Italy's forward Vincenzo Grifo (2-L) celebrates with his teammates after scoring during the friendly soccer match between Italy and Estonia at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, 11 November 2020. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI

Vincenzo Grifo has earned regular Italy call-ups since Roberto Mancini was appointed, but the quality the Azzurri have up front prevented him from joining the Euro 2020 squad, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.

When Roberto Mancini gave Vincenzo Grifo his first Italy call-up in 2018, the Freiburg winger was probably left as surprised as the rest of the country.

Before that moment, he had only played four games with Italy’s U20 squad. What was even more unexpected is that he played his first-ever game at a senior level against Portugal, wearing the No.10 jersey. However, unexpected doesn’t mean undeserved.

Born in Pforzheim, Germany, in April 1993, Grifo has managed to get to the senior Italy national team without playing in any Italian division.

“I’m called ‘The Italian’ in Germany and ‘The German’ in Italy,” the 28-year-old told Sky Sport a few days ago.

This season, he managed nine goals and ten assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances with Freiburg, a club he joined three times in his career. The first one in 2015, and twice in 2019, first on loan and then on a permanent deal.

Grifo has only played five games with Italy, but Mancini has consistently included him in the Azzurri squad.

The 28-year-old has now 26 goals and 41 assists in 140 Bundesliga appearances and could be a valuable sub in a department that, unfortunately for him, is already pretty deep. Mancini has deployed Grifo as a left or right winger, but the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Chiesa and Domenico Berardi are all above him in the pecking order.

Grifo has been included in the 33-man provisional squad for the Euros, but did not book his place on the plane for the tournament.

The winger dreamed of a call-up: “I played well this season and I gave my best to play the Euro, it would be a great story,” he had told Sky Sport after the end of the Bundesliga campaign.

Mancini was one of the few to gamble on Grifo’s talent, giving him that first Italy call-up. However, the quality of Italy attackers meant there was no space for him in the team.