Peter Pellegri
Making his Serie A debut at 15 years and 280 days is no coincidence, as is being the third youngest scorer in the Italian top division, at 16 years and 72 days, after Amadei and Rivera with his goal against Roma at the Olimpico. and the youngest striker to have scored twice in Serie A against Lazio at 16 years and 112 days, thus beating Silvio Piola’s record, which had held for 86 years. Then the road to consecration can be tortuous and uphill if the physicist plays some dirty tricks, but the fact remains that the stuff is there. Juric had seen us along with Pietro Pellegri at the time of Genoa and that’s why he wanted him in Turin. Injuries have had a hand in it and Pietro has only been able to show his value in flashes, but when he is well, everything he has comes out. We saw it yesterday in Italy’s match against France in their debut in the group stage of the Under 21 European Championship. He took his time in Badè, but also in Kalulu and headed in Tonali’s free kick Azzurrini temporarily equalized. The final defeat, undeserved, was then decreed by very serious mistakes, four of the most sensational, committed by the referee Lindhout and his assistants. Before the goal, however, Pellegri, when the match was still scoreless, had already come close to scoring, but France goalkeeper Chevalier had made a good save to deny the goal. But not only goals scored or nearly missed but also a decidedly positive performance by Pietro who showed off all his talents, among other things in a match where he was little supported by his teammates especially by Cambiaghi: he fought tirelessly demonstrating grit, determination and generosity; he has repeatedly dominated aerial duels; he attacked the depth as many times as he could; he gave some nice balls to his teammates like the one to Bellanova who then crossed for Ricci who didn’t get there by a little; and remained on the pitch until the final whistle, even though he was tired. Good news for Turin.
Without taking anything away from Sanabria, but Pellegri is more forward than him. He has the physique of a striker who in the box can deal with opposing defenders, even the most imposing ones. He has an eye for goal. He has a great desire to consecrate himself, taking revenge on the fate that held him back for a long time. In the area he knows how to assert himself with his head and with his feet. From outside he also has a powerful shot. He knows how to insinuate himself into spaces. To be clear, it is a union between Filippo Inzaghi and Christian Vieri.
Juric and Nicolato are his mentors and coach Roberto Mancini keeps an eye on him. For this Under 21 European Championship, Nicolato is counting a lot on Pellegri: “I bet a lot on Pietro, he has the will to do very well”. Mancini: “Let’s wait for Pellegri because he stopped due to physical problems the two times we called him up”. Juric who knows him best wants Pietro to improve: “He has to improve in everything, we are at very low levels. He is serious about many things: on the vision of the ball, on the left foot, on the movements, on the management of the situations. In the realization with the right hand it is fine, but with the left it is not. There’s a lot to do, but the potential is there. I don’t know how to explain, but when you see these things you also see the potential and it’s worth spending time, working and having patience because if he improves in all things he becomes a fantastic player. It takes time, years in my opinion, experience and whatever it takes. There is his will to improve. He has the potential that others don’t have and he’s showing it a bit now, but it’s not a game or two-three month thing. It’s a process. For me he has the foundations to become strong, but seriously strong”.
Pellegri turned 22 on March 17 and time is on his side to become a top player as Juric says and Turin has a rough gem to transform into a diamond.
