Italy coach Roberto Mancini is pleased to see Gianluca Scamacca join West Ham United but warns the former Sassuolo striker that he must ‘prepare to suffer’ in the Premier League, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.
West Ham’s new number seven found himself overshadowed by another debutant centre-forward during Sunday’s league opener against Manchester City at the London Stadium.
But while it was Erling Haaland’s face plastered over the back pages, Scamacca still offered a tantalising glimpse of his own qualities during just half hour on the pitch.
There were a couple of wonderful crossfield passes. The odd eye-catching piece of close control. A bullet header turned away by Ederson, albeit from an offside position.
Standing at 6ft 5ins, and more powerful and aggressive than the languid Sebastien Haller, Scamacca certainly looked well suited to make his mark in the fast and physical Premier League.
And Mancini, the former Manchester City boss who guided Italy to European Championship glory in 2021, is pleased to see some of his most promising youngsters secure big-money moves to one of the most competitive leagues on the continent, even if Scamacca could be in for a punishing period of adaptation.
Will Gianluca Scamacca thrive at West Ham United?
“It is also nice that the most prestigious competitions attract our talents. I am happy if they play and if they are happy,” said Mancini.
“To Scamacca, I say that the Premier League is the best tournament. Prepare to suffer because the first months will be very hard. Then, he will become another player.”
Former Hammers hero Paolo di Canio struck a similar tone when discussing West Ham’s £30 million summer signing recently, preaching patience as Scamacca looks to adapt on English soil.
“It is not easy to be a protagonist in the Premier League. It is a tough championship,” Di Canio says. “(This situation) reminds me of Haller. At Eintracht Frankfurt, he scored a goal every two games and at West Ham he struggled.
“Then, at West Ham, there is (Michail) Antonio who is a totem pole. I don’t know if (Scamacca) will be a starter right away.”
Antonio got the nod against Man City last time out, with Moyes reluctant to throw Scamacca in at the deep end.
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