Mateo Retegui is poised to assert himself as a formidable number nine contender for Italy in the forthcoming friendly matches against Venezuela and Ecuador, presenting a distinct opportunity on the eve of Euro 2024.
Initially introduced into Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri squad in March 2023, Retegui, hailing from Argentina, swiftly made an impression with noteworthy performances, notably securing goals against England and Malta during his inaugural appearances. His inclusion seemed to seamlessly complement the team’s tactical setup.
Although Retegui has not registered a goal for Italy since then, his transition to Genoa has yielded positive results. The 24-year-old has demonstrated his prowess by tallying eight goals in 24 appearances for Alberto Gilardino’s side, despite encountering setbacks due to injuries throughout the season.
With his commendable form, the forward from Genoa is anticipated to feature prominently under the stewardship of Luciano Spalletti in Italy’s forthcoming encounter against Venezuela, with the possibility of earning another starting berth against Ecuador. A commendable display in these fixtures holds significant potential in enhancing Retegui’s prospects leading up to the imminent European Championship this summer.
Given the absence of a definitive goal-scoring figure within Spalletti’s squad, Retegui finds himself presented with an auspicious occasion to validate his capabilities, precisely a year following his initial induction into the Azzurri fold.