Napoli striker Giacomo Raspadori has hailed Italy manager Roberto Mancini as the person who inculcated awareness and mental agility to help guide him to the top. The Sassuolo youth product earned his premier national team call up under the ex-Inter and Manchester City manager, and hasn’t looked back since.
Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio (via SassuoloNews), Raspadori recounted his sensations of making it to the top and winning the European Championship with Italy.
“First of all, it was a miracle to be there at that European Championship. I had a dozen appearances in Serie A and I will never forget the dialogue I had with with Mr. Mancini after the call-up. I would define it as touching. He made me realize that he has boundless esteem for me. With him I understood that I have reached a certain type of level. He gave me awareness in myself, mentally he was the one who unlocked me. When in Sassuolo, I had lackluster moments, Mancini never doubted me, always guaranteeing me playing time in the national team. I arrived in Coverciano and the seniors made me feel important, even though I hadn’t done anything yet.”
Raspadori then spoke of his move to Napoli on loan
“If my life has changed, I owe it to Napoli too. And to a phone call: the one with which Spalletti and Giuntoli explained to me why I should sign. I had all the will in the world to take this decision. I would say that it paid off. The week following the goal against Juventus in Turin in the 93rd minute, I was going to Castel Volturno to training. While I was driving, there was a banner celebrating my goal. It gave me chills. It had a strange effect on me.”
23-year-old Raspadori appeared 33 times in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning team last season, scoring 6 goals in the process.
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