Pantaleo Corvino reveals early frustration at would-be dancer Graziano Pelle, but says he has the potential to become a top striker akin to Luca Toni.
Pantaleo Corvino reveals early frustration at would-be dancer Graziano Pelle, but says he has the potential to become a top striker akin to Luca Toni.
The 29-year-old is training this week with Antonio Conte’s Italy squad, following the continuation of his club form at Feyenoord in the Premier League with Southampton.
For his former sporting director at Lecce, however, things could have proven so different, in reference to the forward's youth split between football and Latin American dancing.
“At Lecce Graziano frustrated me. There was his background in dancing and up to the age of 16 he did not know which path to follow more seriously,” Corvino has told the Corriere dello Sport today.
“But thinking about it, if Pelle has arrived where he has today then it must also be down to the dancing, in that it has improved his coordination and dexterity.
“Forwards like he and Luca Toni mature later, whilst if players of his size do not score goals, they are ‘dead’.
“Certainly it holds true for forwards, whilst for those who are over one-metre-90 even more so. Because people and critics are more willing to forgive a quick forward, able bodied.
“Graziano is a striker in the pure sense. He is one that needs to be provided service. But Conte will take care of this. And if Pelle can learn to protect the ball like Toni, then he can really become a top player.”