Italy enlist service of striker who knows nothing about the country

Italy’s national football team has found a new star striker in Mateo Retegui, who has never lived or played in the country and cannot speak the language.

The 23-year-old was born in San Fernando, Argentina, and plays for Boca Juniors but is currently with Club Atletico Tigre, where he has scored 29 goals in 51 games in all competitions. Retegui qualifies to play for Italy through his maternal grandfather, Angelo Dimarco, who is from Sicily and relocated to Argentina.

Despite not speaking Italian, Retegui has linked up well with his teammates, scoring in his first two international games for Italy.

Italy’s head coach Roberto Mancini had previously complained about the lack of attacking options following an injury to Ciro Immobile but has now found a solution in Retegui.

Despite his previous view that only those born in Italy should play for the national team, Mancini recognized Retegui’s red-hot form and said that the world has changed, with every national team in Europe and around the world having players coming from abroad or originally from other nations.

Retegui’s impressive performances have attracted the interest of Premier League clubs, with both Brighton and Crystal Palace reportedly keeping tabs on him, according to Corriere dello Sport.

However, Retegui’s immediate future seems to be with the Italian national team, as he looks set to become a regular in squads going forward. While he has never lived or played in Italy and cannot speak the language, Retegui’s Italian heritage through his grandfather has given him the opportunity to showcase his skills on the international stage.