Very few football fans outside Italy had heard the name Giacomo Raspadori before his surprising call-up to Gli Azzurri’s Euro 2020 squad, but he is now one of the hottest names in the tournament.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season with Sassuolo during the 2020/21 campaign, and his outstanding achievements have led him to be tipped for a major summer transfer, as well as gaining international recognition.
Raspadori made his debut in Italy in the friendly match before Euro 2020 against the Czech Republic and then came on a replacement in the 1-0 victory against Wales. He is the talk of the tournament and therefore the Italian national team decided to put him in front of the camera to answer some big questions.
But what did 90mins Our 21 star have to say?
A Serie A star / Michael Regan / Getty Images
“A player from the past (that Raspadori is similar too), he has just stopped now, and so I would probably say Carlos Tevez.”
Club Legends / Massimo Cebrelli / Getty Images
“My first idol was Samuel Eto’o, because I was an Inter fan as a kid. He was the first one I fell in love with because of the way he was on the pitch, not only for his style of play but he was also a quiet leader. ”
The news will not silence rumors of a potential move to Inter this summer …
Boy wonder / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
“No, just Jack, Raspa or Raspino.” Only the three then.
#ASKAzzurri
You submitted the questions and Giacomo #Raspadori answered? #VivoAzzurro #ITA # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/asT4L3V4Yt
– Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@azzurri) June 23, 2021
“It was always my dream [to play football]. I was lucky and was good at believing I would get there.
“I remember, or as my family always tells me anyway, that when I was little, maybe four or five years old, they asked me what I wanted to be when I was growing up and that [a footballer] was always my answer. “
A cult hero / AFP contributor / Getty Images
“It’s a great pride when compared to players who have made Italian history – really strong players so it makes you happy.
“You have to be good at managing pressure and managing things the right way and always want to improve, without thinking that comparisons are what got you here.”
He did it in / Simon M Bruty / Getty Images
“Gianluigi Buffon in goal, Fabio Cannavaro in the back. In the middle I would choose Andrea Pirlo and now Manuel Locatelli and Luca Toni in front.” You can say he’s a Sassuolo teammate of Locatelli, right?
