Former Pisa striker Arturo Lupoli says Gennaro Gattuso has “attitudes which don’t fit in the world of football”.
The 30-year-old was once seen as a promising young forward, but his career has largely seen him bouncing around the lower leagues in England and Italy.
“Two years ago I went up to Serie A with Frosinone, and going to Pisa was a leap in the dark,” Lupoli recalled in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
Former Pisa striker Arturo Lupoli says Gennaro Gattuso has “attitudes which don’t fit in the world of football”.
The 30-year-old was once seen as a promising young forward, but his career has largely seen him bouncing around the lower leagues in England and Italy.
“Two years ago I went up to Serie A with Frosinone, and going to Pisa was a leap in the dark,” Lupoli recalled in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The relationship with Gattuso didn’t work. It was a paradoxical situation, with a board which wasn't present and a Padre-Padrone [a film about a boy with a domineering father] Coach, with attitude which don’t fit in the world of football.
“I had a nightmare and on a human level it was a disaster.”
Lupoli joined Arsenal at a very young age, while his Italy youth strike partner Giuseppe Rossi went to Manchester United.
“If he hadn’t had four cruciate ligament injuries he’d be one of the 10 best players in the world. I hope he can get back onto the pitch.
“Maybe we can be a partnership again. Our careers haven’t gone as we expected.
“My biggest mistake? At Fiorentina with [Cesare] Prandelli, it was the worst year of my career. And to think I had a deal with Napoli.
“I was waiting for [President Aurelio] De Laurentiis and [sporting director Pierpaolo] Marino to sign, but agents pushed me to join Fiorentina, which gave Napoli a bad impression of me, I’d given them my word.
“I was rewarded financially, but undermined technically. The next year no-one wanted me, I was cast aside with the forgotten ones.”
No less an authority than Thierry Henry has described the striker as a potential star who never fulfilled his potential.
“At Arsenal he was the leader in the dressing room, a super champion,” Lupoli recalled.
“He spoke Italian and in my first few months he helped me to fit in, giving me lots of advice. I also got a lot from [Jens] Lehmann and [Robert] Pires. Today I’m still in contact with [Cesc] Fabregas and [Philippe] Senderos.
“At 17 [Arsene] Wenger gave my debut in the Premier League and the FA Cup. I won the Championship [play-off] with Derby County in front of 80,000 fans.
“One day I’d like to play abroad again.”
Lupoli is currently playing with Fermana in the Lega Pro, and has scored four times in four games.