West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca says he spoke to Sandro Tonali after his move to Newcastle and believes Arsenal ‘didn’t pay much’ to sign his friend Declan Rice.
Scamacca has been playing in England for one season but struggled with injuries at West Ham in 2022-23.
During his interview with Wednesday’s printed edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (page 6), the ex-Sassuolo forward spoke about another Italian who has recently moved to the Premier League, Tonali.
“We spoke after the official announcement. I wish him the best of luck. Sandro is very strong and has everything to impose himself in the Premier League,” said Scamacca.
The 24-year-old added that he’s not concerned by competition from Argentine-born striker Mateo Retegui with Italy’s national team.
“Competition helps me grow, but I’ve always looked at myself, not the others,” he admitted.
Scamacca has become a close friend of England midfielder Rice who has recently joined Arsenal for over €100m. It was a shocking transfer fee for many fans and pundits, but not for Scamacca.
“They didn’t pay much. He [Rice] is so strong and he reminds me of Steven Gerrard,” said Scamacca.
“Rice is the best midfielder I’ve played with.”
Davide Frattesi, a new Inter signing, is another close friend of Scamacca.
“He has different characteristics [from Rice]. I knew he would join Inter,” admitted the West Ham forward.
“He is fantastic with his late runs and Simone Inzaghi’s team is ideal for him. He was right to choose Inter having the chance to play for a top Italian team. I didn’t have the same opportunity because there was less money last summer and I am more open than Davide mentally. I am satisfied, the Premier League is the NBA of football.”
During his interview with Gazzetta, Scamacca also spoke about a potential return to Serie A saying that it would not be a step back in his career and admitting that it’d be a dream to be coached by José Mourinho.