Gianluca Scamacca is impressing in Serie A after leaving Premier League outfit West Ham United over the summer with his two-goal display against Empoli proof of the striker’s ‘potential’.
The Corriere di Bergamo newspaper described Gianluca Scamacca’s performance in that 3-0 away win as ‘irrepressible’, and one suspects the Empoli defenders would broadly agree with their choice of synonym.
The Italy international, back in Italy after an injury-ridden, energy-sapping spell at West Ham United, showcased his new-found confidence with a gorgeous backheeled opener in a comfortable weekend win.
His second of the game, and his fourth in just four Serie A starts this term, was reminiscent of the sort of goal Scamacca used to score in the green-and-black of Sassuolo. Shifting into space and lashing home with ferocity and feeling.
West Ham sold Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta
“Scamacca was very good. We gave him the right conditions (to score),” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini tells DAZN.
“He had some injuries but now he is recovering. If he continues (in this form), he can grow further. Today he scored two goals, hit the post twice, made an assist, and showed all his potential.
“He can become a point of reference for us and, we hope, also for the national team.”
With Italy still on the lookout for a reliable centre-forward, the sight of Scamacca rediscovering his pre-West Ham form will be a welcome boost for Azzurri coach Luciano Spaletti, especially with the European Championships now less than 12 months away.
Four goals in four Serie A stars
“We found a team much stronger than us today,” sighs Empoli coach Aurelio Andreazzoli, via Sky Italia. “Both in terms of the size of its players and their quality, in the construction of the game and in their players’ ability to be decisive.
“(I am talking about) Scamacca but not only him.”
West Ham sold Scamacca for £27 million over the summer, recouping much of the sum they handed over to Sassuolo a year previously. And the fact that West Ham now appear to be in the market for a number nine again – Vangelis Pavlidis, Adam Hlozek and co linked ahead of the January window – will not go unnoticed, some supporters questioning why David Moyes appeared to give up on a striker of Scamacca’s potential so early in his Hammers career.
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