Mateo Retegui is now destined for a move to Serie A in the summer and a number of top sides have already set their sights on the Argentine-Italian, writes Apollo Heyes.
The 23-year-old striker was handed a surprise call-up by Roberto Mancini for Italy’s first two Euro 2024 qualifiers against England and Malta, and he rose to the occasion by scoring in both games, instantly making him one of the hottest topics in the peninsula.
Whilst it may still be too early to call Retegui the saviour of the Azzurri and their number nine issues, he’s clearly a promising player and one that would be a good fit at a number of tops fighting in the upper echelons of Serie A.
With less than three months left until the start of the summer transfer window, which clubs in Serie A should add Retegui to their squad?
1 – Inter
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter were many peoples’ favourites to win the Scudetto this season but they’ve fallen far short of league leaders Napoli, and one reason for this is their lack of reliable firepower up front.
Romelu Lukaku returned on an expensive loan deal last summer and has failed to replicate the magic shown during his first Serie A spell, and will return to Chelsea in the summer. Edin Dzeko’s contract is quickly coming to an end and Joaquin Correa could be sold after an unconvincing two years, pushing Inter to search for a new striker.
In this context, Retegui could be the perfect signing for Inter. The 23-year-old has already shown his eye for goal with Tigre, netting 30 in 57 games, and his accessible price means the Nerazzurri won’t be troubled by their delicate financial position. The fact that he’d be working alongside compatriot Lautaro Martinez is only an added bonus.
2 – Milan
Another club in the centre forward market is Milan, who are in an equally precarious striking position. Their most reliable number nine this season has been Giroud, who is entering the twilight of his career.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to leave when his contract expires, Ante Rebic is ever inconsistent and Divock Origi has failed to live up to expectations, making a new striker a smart signing in the summer.
Again, Retegui seems a good fit, being a young, talented and intelligent player, the perfect archetype for Stefano Pioli. With Rafael Leao on the wing, the Argentine-Italian would add another dangerous threat to the Rossoneri frontline, which could be exactly what they need to take back the Scudetto.
3 – Lazio
One team who have been keeping an eye on Retegui for a while now is Lazio, who are currently on track to secure Champions League qualification. The Biancocelesti have mostly relied on talismanic forward Ciro Immobile for goals in recent years, but injuries this season have limited his time on the pitch, something that hasn’t derailed the club’s campaign.
Now 33, Lazio cannot rely on Immobile forever and the unwavering scythe of time may force the club to start exploring possible long-term replacements. The departures of Vedat Muriqi and Felipe Caicedo over the last few years has also left Maurizio Sarri without a backup striker, forcing a false nine system when the captain is absent.
Whilst it may be less prestigious than jumping straight into the starting lineup, Retegui may do well to make the move to Rome in the summer. By initially being a backup or alternative to Immobile, he’d have enough time to gain a level of fluency in the language and adapt to life in Serie A, working closely with one of the most prolific strikers in recent league memory.