New Azzurri star Mateo Retegui opened up about his surprise call up, his likely future in Serie A and how it felt to score for Italy.
The 23-year-old Argentine-born striker was an unexpected inclusion in Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against England and Malta, and he did not disappoint playing for the nation of his grandfather.
Retegui scored in both of his Azzurri appearances and seems destined to make the jump to Serie A in the summer, with clubs like Inter and Lazio both keen to make a move for the Tigre striker.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Retegui first discussed what lies ahead in his future.
“President Melaraña said that in July it could be likely that I’ll be sold. I really like the idea, it is a dream for everyone who plays football, the greatest teams are in Europe. In Italy there are great clubs, I like them all.”
He was asked about the interest from Inter.
“There’s nothing concrete and I don’t know what’s going on, it’s dad who’s taking care of the future. My mind is 100% on Tigre. I’d love to come to Italy and score lots of goals, just as I’d like to score lots of goals for the national team.”
The 23-year-old remembered the moment that Mancini called him up for the Italy squad.
“One day at the beginning of the year I was coming back from a training session and dad called me to tell me he had very important news.
“But I would never have imagined something like this, not even in my wildest dreams could I have thought of playing for Italy, in Naples, in the stadium that bears the name of Diego Armando Maradona.
“As soon as dad told me that Roberto (Mancini, ed.) wanted me, my yes came very quickly, there wasn’t much to think about.”
He was asked if he spoke to Mancini before joining up with the Azzurri at Coverciano.
“No, only my dad did. We talked a lot with Roberto at Coverciano, especially about tactics and how he intends to play. I have to thank him, all the coaching staff and my teammates for how they welcomed me and made me feel.
“I never imagined I would experience all this. I tried to make the most of every day to get to know the environment and begin to understand European football, which is very different from Argentinean football.
“It’s faster, dynamic, intense. It suits me, I like it a lot. Now the goal is to prepare myself even better on a physical and mental level if Italy will call me up again.”
Retegui gave his thoughts on Mancini’s Italy squad.
“They’re a tough team, very physical, I like them a lot. I know that now many people have a lot of expectations of me, but I have just as many to play for that team.”
He commented on how it felt to play at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as an Argentinian.
“Making my debut in that stadium wearing the Italy shirt was wonderful, it’s hard to explain, for all the feelings I had when I entered the pitch, to hear all those people. Beautiful. I just wanted to win, it would have been the perfect debut.”
Finally, Retegui was asked who was better – Maradona or Lionel Messi.
“Both. I didn’t live Diego’s story as a player. I met him playing the Clasico with Estudiantes when he was the coach of Gimnasia, we won 1-0 with my goal.
“I have scored many, but for me that remains the most important goal of my career. I took a nice photo with Diego that day, even though he wasn’t exactly happy.
“But I can’t choose between him and Leo, they are the two greatest in history.”