Italy coach Roberto Mancini believes Marco Verratti will be ready to go by the start of the 2021 European Championship. The midfielder suffered a knee sprain and has been given a four-to-six week timetable to return by PSG. “His injury was not a simple one, but we are still a month away. I am pretty confident; I spoke with Marco, and he is on the same page. We will continue to check in on him between now and then.”
The manager weighed in on the roster he has built over the years in an interview with Sky Sport: “Our team has a precise identity and knows what to do. You always need some creativity too, and we have some players that can provide that. We have relied a lot on the youngsters, while the more experienced contributors have helped both on and outside the pitch. I think we created a nice atmosphere inside the group, which I think was key for our growth.”
After the roster expansion, the gaffer is looking at possible options to serve as third-string striker behind Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti, while Moise Kean will be used in multiple roles. Francesco Caputo and Kevin Lasagna were previously considered the frontrunners, but Giacomo Raspadori is making a strong case with his recent performances, Gazzetta dello Sport reports.
The 21-year-old forward has bagged five goals in the last eight appearances while filling in for Caputo, who battled a back injury. Given his agility, technique and passing ability, on top of his prowess in the box, he would be perfectly suited for the style of play implemented by Mancini.