Meet Italy's new striker Mateo Retegui!

Italy surprised many by calling up Mateo Retegui to their national team. The team, led by coach Roberto Mancini, is seeking new talent for the upcoming European Championship defense. Retegui, a dual national of Italy and Argentina, represents Mancini's effort to strengthen the squad by looking beyond Serie A.

With limited top-quality strikers in Italy, the call-up of Retegui, who was not previously considered for Argentina, highlights the shrinking talent pool in Serie A. Retegui, who agreed to be naturalized by Italy, follows the path of Mauro Camoranesi, an Argentine-born player who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.

The player's father confirmed Retegui's commitment to Italy, emphasizing his Italian heritage and dream of playing in Serie A. Retegui, known for his powerful and aggressive style, has had success in Argentina and is seen as a good fit for European football.

Retegui's decision to switch nationalities was met with surprise in Argentina, where he was a top forward. Italy took advantage of Lionel Scaloni's doubts about the player, leading to his call-up. Retegui, nicknamed 'El Tabano', is now behind other forwards in the Argentine national team's pecking order.

Retegui, who could debut for Italy in upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers, was signed by Italy legend Francesco Totti in 2020. At 23, he is seen as a potential star for Italy and is being monitored by top Serie A clubs like Inter and AC Milan, who are looking to strengthen their attacking options.