Gianluca Scamacca insists Italy coach Luciano Spalletti can ‘always count’ on him but doesn’t know if he was snubbed for international friendlies in March for disciplinary reasons.
Italy international Scamacca scored a goal in Atalanta’s 3-0 win over Napoli on Saturday and spoke to DAZN and Sky Sport Italia after the Stadio Maradona clash.
Italy coach Spalletti surprisingly snubbed the ex-Sassuolo and West Ham striker for international friendlies against Ecuador and Venezuela so Scamacca was asked what he must do to regain the coach’s trust.
“He can always count on me. I always try to give my best and fulfil my potential,” he told DAZN.
“When this happens, I am even happier and more determined. I’ve pursued this path since the start of the season, so I am super happy, especially for Atalanta, because they were the first ones to believe in me.”
Sky Sport asked why he hasn’t consistently played for Italy despite being one of the country’s best centre-forwards on paper.
“You should not ask me,” Scamacca replied.
“I know I have to work hard on many aspects, and I try to improve every day. These are moments and sometimes you just need that click that makes you explode. I don’t think about this. I am only focused on work.”
There were reports that Spalletti had excluded Scamacca because he was one of those players who spent the night awake playing PlayStation, so his omission from the squad was a disciplinary decision.
“Honestly, I don’t know. People talk, but they are not in the room with me at night and they don’t know what I do. So many things have been said, but I know the truth and those who know me are aware of what person I am.”
Both Spalletti and Gian Piero Gasperini have sometimes been critical of Scamacca this season. Why?
“I think it’s a way to motivate me, a carrot and a stick,” the Italian striker replied.
“I try to take them the right way and a motivation to do even more.”
Talking about Atalanta’s win over Napoli with DAZN, Scamacca said: “I am really satisfied. I work hard to put in these performances. Today’s game was against a direct opponent for the Champions League, so we are all satisfied.
“It’s so nice because we’ve been working for this moment, and we deserved it on the pitch. So we can only play and be as united as ever.
“When you play these sorts of games, it can happen to drop points, but I think today’s game was perfect.”