Gianluca Scamacca gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday that many saw as an appeal to his hometown team Roma, who are interested in signing the Italian striker. The 24-year-old just recently made the move to West Ham United from Sassuolo for £35 million ($42.6 million), but in his first Premier League season, he suffered with injuries and only managed to score eight goals in 27 appearances.
Scamacca was a trainee for the Italian team and was born in Rome. Roma is his childhood club and when he was younger, Scamacca used to attend Roma games with his father and uncle. His first shirt ever had legendary sponsor Barilla across the front, while his second featured Gabriel Batistuta, another of Scamacca’s idols. Roma’s under-14 team won the national championship when Scamacca scored 34 goals in 30 games.
He could thus believe he still needs to take care of Roma. He remarked in an interview with an Italian newspaper: “What footballer in the world wouldn’t dream of being coached by (Jose) Mourinho? Roma is home to me, and (Francesco) Totti was my childhood hero. I have no doubt that Mourinho would inspire me, and I would get better with him around. “
Scamacca addeed, “I wouldn’t have to go back to Serie A because I didn’t succeed in England; that is not the situation. only because it would be an irresistible chance. No, it wouldn’t even represent a step backward for my career- our league is still among the finest.”
Scamacca Still Has Unfinished Business In London Stadium
West Ham, on the other hand, believe he has unfinished business in East London. The striker, whose contract expires in 2027 (with a one-year extension), played 45 minutes in Monday’s 4-1 victory against Borehamwood. It was his first appearance since March, a 4-0 win against AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League last-16 first leg.
The Italian claims he worked out twice a day with a personal trainer while on vacation in Santorini, Greece, since he was keen to be in condition for the preseason. “I saw more of the gym and the pitch than the sea or the beach,” Scamacca remarked. The attacker failed to finish a full match since he only played 90 minutes in three of his 16 league games from August to January due to his tardy arrival, which prevented him from having a full preseason.
Scamacca’s season was somewhat disturbed by a few injuries, which didn’t assist him, according to first-team coach Billy McKinlay, who spoke with The Athletic said, “Getting used to a new league—probably the physically and mentally toughest in Europe—is difficult. He wasn’t at his best when we saw him, and he had a knee injury in the second part of the previous season. He has returned and is likely still getting back to full fitness.”
Given that they are part of the team’s preseason tour in Australia, Scamacca will use the games against Tottenham Hotspur and Perth Glory to increase his level of fitness. The team’s primary striker, Michail Antonio, is now competing for Jamaica at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but other forwards like Danny Ings, Divin Mubama, and Scamacca have a chance to catch the manager’s eye.
Is Scamacca Being Overlooked By West Ham?
Scamacca must adjust to David Moyes’ playing style. In the previous campaign, Moyes’ confidence in Scamacca began to waver. The forward’s 2022–23 season may have peaked at its lowest point during the 1–1 draw with Aston Villa in March, during which Scamacca received two orders to warm up. But Moyes altered his mind and replaced Danny Ings with Maxwel Cornet.
After Antonio started ahead of him in the 2-0 victory away to AEK Larnaca, Scamacca was passed over for the second time in as many days. But by scoring both goals in the contest, Antonio supported Moyes’ choice. Antonio is renowned for his hard ethic off the ball and he finished 2022–23 season as West Ham’s leading scorer with 14 goals in 48 appearances. The 33-year-old, who is nearing the last year of his contract, is still essential to Moyes for this reason.
But unlike Antonio, Scamacca doesn’t play by striving after unattainable goals. He prefers to establish himself by scoring goals. Scamacca believes he can score 20 goals in the upcoming season, barring any injuries. However, it is unknown if it will be wearing a Roma or West Ham jersey.
Scamacca Makes A Big Statement In His Attempt To Join Roma
The Italian international joined West Ham in 2022 and immediately signed a five-year deal, but he is already searching for a way out. Scamacca has stated that he wants to go back to Roma, where he spent time in the junior system from 2012 to 2015. He is not searching for just any team to sign him.
The Rome-born attacker expressed his desire to collaborate with boss Jose Mourinho in an arresting interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Scamacca declared to the Italian press, “Roma is my home.” The possibility of having José Mourinho as manager is ideal.” “I’m sure Jose would help me hone my skills at Roma,” he added.
It’s unclear whether a deal can be struck because Roma are said to be keen, but West Ham want to return as much of their investment in the Italian as possible, which might be a stumbling block. Michail Antonio, a fellow Hammers striker, stated earlier this summer regarding Scamacca that the Italian has excellent talent but has failed to adapt to David Moyes’ style of gameplay at West Ham.
