Manolo Gabbiadini spoke to a former Southampton star before joining the club.
Manolo Gabbiadini has enjoyed a dream start to his Southampton career
Former Southampton striker Graziano Pelle played a role in convincing his countryman Manolo Gabbiadini to join the club, it has emerged.
In an interview with Calcio Mercato, Gabbiadini’s agent Silvio Pagliari said that the two spoke before the former Napoli man committed his future to the Saints.
The agent said Pelle, “spoke in glowing terms of Southampton, both the team and the city.”
The strikers are familiar with each other having been in Italy squads together.
Gabbiadini swapped Southern Italy for Southern England on deadline day, joining for a club record fee, while Pelle left Southampton for Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng last summer.
Graziano Pelle scored 30 goals in two seasons at Southampton
Since Pelle’s departure Southampton have struggled for goals, with the sale of Sadio Mane not helping matters, and the decision not to bring in a replacement angering fans.
Gabbiadini was eventually brought in to play the role Pelle used to and has provided what Claude Puel’s side were missing since his arrival, scoring three goals in his first two games.
He’s set to lead to line in Sunday’s EFL Cup Final and his agent also assured supporters he has no desire to leave any time soon, saying he “wants to remain for a long time.”
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