The January signing from Napoli has been in good form.
Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini celebrates scoring their second goal
Southampton won the long-term Premier League race for Italian striker Manolo Gabbiadini in January.
The Italian joined for a fee reported by the BBC to be worth around £14 million after long being linked with a move to England.
However, it was a deal doubted by many.
The 25-year-old has ability, no doubt, but has struggled for goalscoring form and regular football at Napoli.
Many pundits in Italy felt Southampton may be wasting their money but he has proved them wrong so far. He has scored three goals in two games for Southampton, following on from three in three for Napoli.
One man impressed is former Southampton midfielder Jamie Redknapp. He commented in his Daily Mail column that he likes what he has seen from the Italian striker:
“Manolo Gabbiadini is a real old-school centre forward.
“Unlike many Premier League strikers, such as Alexis Sanchez or Sergio Aguero, he is not interested in dropping into the No 10 position to win the ball.
“He wants to get in the box and score. Gabbiadini is so quick off the mark and I love his clever movement in the penalty area.
“He is so slender and wiry — watching him in action is a throwback to Paolo Rossi for Italy at the 1982 World Cup.
“It is still early days for Gabbiadini but Southampton appear to have pulled off another masterstroke by signing him.”
There is no doubt that Southampton fans have also been impressed by the player.
The Italian looks like being a potential match-winner for the club, and is putting to bed the ghosts of previous Italian recruit Dani Osvaldo.
Jamie Redknapp
If Gabbiadini can keep up his current scoring run, which stands at six goals in five games, then Southampton have themselves a star.
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