Andrea Cambiaso’s agent has reacted to speculation linking the Serie A rising star with a £12 million move to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, speaking to Radio Marte.
Is it any coincidence that Italy have won just two of their last nine games in normal time since Leonardo Spinazzola – arguably the outstanding player at Euro 2020 – ruptured his ligaments in the quarter-final victory over Belgium?
Shorn of their swashbuckling left-back, the continental champions have looked predictable, sluggish and one-dimensional in attack. Furthermore, the more defensively-minded Emerson Palmeiri has not come close to replicating the Roma man’s all-action style on the flanks.
Now, this is not to say that Italy would have swept aside North Macedonia in last Thursday’s fateful World Cup qualifier if Roberto Mancini had turned to Cambiaso instead of Emerson.
But the 21-year-old’s agent, Giovanni Bia, certainly believes that the Genoa flyer must be fast-tracked into the senior squad, going as far as to compare Cambiaso with arguably the finest defender of the last 40 years.
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“Is he ready for the national team? To make it clear, he is a Paolo Maldini,” says Bia.
“He can play on the right or the left as a full-back or in midfield. He is two-footed and has flexibility. I think he should be part of the new (Italy squad). He has vision and quality. Italy needs players like that.
“We don’t have great full backs at the moment. For me, he will be one of the full-backs of the national team for the next ten years.”
Italy’s new Maldini?
Alfredo Pedulla reported this week that Tottenham have joined Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan in the race for Cambiaso’s £12 million-rated signature.
Fabio Paratici will know the one-time Leicester City target from his time in Serie A and, what’s more, Cambiaso is due to become a free-agent in the summer of 2023.
“Away from Genoa?,” Bia adds. “We will see in June what happens. (Napoli director Cristiano) Giuntoli had already looked for him years ago but he couldn’t get him and went to Empoli.
“The boy is being watched by many teams. We will have to discuss with the club what is best for everyone. His contract is due to expire in 2023.”
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