A change of form, a brave choice and a player finally finding his size. But the story may have a different ending — to the delight of Inter.
Spalletti ora ha il suo Lautaro: con uno scambio può averlo anche l’Inter (Foto: Ansa/Lapresse) – serieanews.com
There is always a time when even the most stubborn decide to change their minds. For Luciano Spalletti it has come at age 65. He, who has spent his life tinkering with the four-man defense like a craftsman of the ball, now finds himself in charge of an Italy that goes fast thanks to a versatile 3-5-2.
An almost philosophical mutation, the stuff one imagines him at Coverciano in front of the blackboard, staring at the little numbers while wondering, “But if everyone else is doing it, why not me?”
Yet that is exactly what happened. The head coach put pride aside, listened to the group, and realized that his boys, with this three-man defense, felt at home. From that moment on, things have changed. You can see the results, but more importantly you can feel a different air. As if they had finally found the key to unlock a door that had been closed for too long.
But the most interesting turn is not tactical. It is human. His name is Giacomo Raspadori. A young man who seemed to have lost his bearings in Naples and instead found himself thanks to an insight from Antonio Conte and in the national team has become the star player Spalletti was looking for.
Giacomo Raspadori si sta ritrovando nel ruolo ‘alla Lautaro’ (AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
Conte first sidelined him, then put him in the best condition to do well. Not as a forward, too much of a sacrifice. Not as an outside forward, a role in which he gets lost like a child in a shopping mall. The Napoli coach finally gave him his place: second forward, behind a heavy striker, just as Lautaro Martinez does at Inter.
And here’s the kicker. Because Raspadori, in this new guise, has lit up. Three goals in five games, a newfound confidence with the ball and with himself. Conte, who dusted off the 3-5-2 in Naples almost out of necessity rather than conviction, is enjoying the fruits. Although – it must be said – Jack remains an alternative. A Plan B, ready to give way again to David Neres as soon as the Brazilian is fit and enlisted.
Frattesi per Raspadori: che idea lo scambio con l’Inter
And that’s where Inter comes in. Because Simone Inzaghi is not blind. Raspadori, in this role, would be Lautaro’s luxury deputy. Or perhaps, why not, a perfect partner in crime. One who can range, invent, and put the Toro in the best conditions to strike.
We had floated the idea back in December because Napoli was considering a cession of him, and now, with the end of the championship, he might even sit at the table. Not least because Raspadori knows that a return to the old system could bring him back to the sidelines, and a cession is no longer heresy.
Frattesi per Raspadori: che idea lo scambio con l’Inter (AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
Price? Hard to go below 30 million euros. But the key could be called Davide Frattesi. A player much liked by Roma and Napoli, which had already tried in January to wrest him from Inter without success. A swap, perhaps with a mini-coupon in favor of Inter, could be the right formula to close the circle.
Spalletti meanwhile is holding on to his new Lautaro, but he knows things can change in June. Conte could lose a valuable wild card but gain a midfielder he needs like crazy. And Inzaghi? He could end up with an all-South American attacking pair-or almost.
This article Spalletti now has his Lautaro: With a swap Inter can have him too appeared first on SerieANews.
