“And nickname? They call me The Tigerbut I don’t know… I prefer Mateo Retegui”. Low tone, total confidentiality. A sentence like that was enough for him to make himself known in the summer. And make it clear what kind of guy he really is. Also because his case is perhaps more unique than rare: in ItaliaRetegui’s name became known because he was first called up in National (it was a year ago: March 2023, he was still playing for Tigre in Argentina), then, calmly, because it emerged in a club. Indeed, it is emerging: in Genoawho bought him in the summer, has scored for now 6 goals in 22 games. He missed some due to injury. Thursday 21 March, against Venezuelahe made one double with the blue shirt. Perhaps becoming the only one hope for the coach’s attack Luciano Spalletti.
With the national team, the feeling seems to be very strong: 4 goals in 5 games. L’ex ct Roberto Mancini he had sensed it might be a hope. Spalletti confirmed it. The fans, then, see it as a real alternative to a Ciro Immobile too subdued (the coach himself said it a few days ago) to be reliable. And he? He could fly. But he doesn’t speak, he always stays silent. With that water bottle mate always in hand that accompanies him before and after training sessions and matches, both at Coverciano, both in Genoa. A city that is learning to love.
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When he arrived in the summer, the fans went crazy for him: the presentation took place in one Piazza De Ferrari closed to traffic, full of people, with smoke bombs e cori. Retegui showed up with one scarf and his hands in the air to greet a city that welcomed him with very high expectations. Not easy to manage. Also because Genoa had paid for him 15 million euros from Tigre: an important figure for one newly promoted who believed, and still believes, in the player’s qualities.
From that day, from that crowd, Retegui started working. And he never stopped. Photos on social media? Only in the field. Photos around the city? None. She chose to live on the edge, to keep all hers confidentiality. He takes lessons Italiantry to reconstruct yours origins who, curiously, are actually Ligurian: his paternal great-great-grandfather was from Sestri Levante and had emigrated to Argentina in the 1950s. Mateo, who is 24 years old, has always loved playing sports: his family is famous forField hockey (his father was also the coach of the Argentine national team), he prefers football. His idols? Kane e Haaland. Lautaro? “Yes, very strong, but I still prefer others…” he had said in one of his first interviews. Argentine and Italian blood, grit and determination.
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But don’t want to appear. He likes living there family: he asked his sister Micaela to follow him to Italy. She is also known for hockey in Argentina and she continues to practice it here too. By the way, every goal scored by Mateo is dedicated to Micaela. A very strong bond, like the one being built with the national team and Genoa. Feeling at home like this is not for everyone, but it is an advert that can open up to an increasingly indigenous Italy, in search of talents that he can no longer produce at home. But this, unfortunately, is all another theme.
2024-03-22 11:23:32
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