Mateo Retegui will leave this summer amid interest from Premier League trio West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion in the Argentine-born Italy international.
That is according to Ezequiel Melarana, the president of Retegui’s current employers.
The Boca Juniors-owned striker is on loan at Argentine rivals Club Atletico Tigre, his outstanding form catching the eye on both sides of the Atlantic. In his last 54 games for club and country, the powerful, predatory Retegui has scored 33 goals, including two for Italy against England and Malta during the March international break.
Roberto Mancini’s controversial decision to call up a man born and raised in Argentina – utilising that old ‘Granny Rule’ to Azzurri benefit – has already been justified; Retegui thriving where so many others have failed in Italy’s number nine shirt.
West Ham, Brighton and Crystal Palace like Mateo Retegui
Tigres, meanwhile, will cash in on Retegui this summer. They can turn his loan deal into a permanent transfer for just £2 million. And Melarana indicates that the 23-year-old poacher will then depart for an immediate and substantial profit.
“Everything suggests that Retegui will be sold in June,” says the Tigres chief (TYC Sports). “There are several clubs interested in Europe. We will buy 50 per cent of his price tag (from Boca). And we will be partners in the operation.”
Retegui, who started his career at River Plate, is reportedly on the radar of West Ham, Brighton and a Crystal Palace who kick-started the (new) Roy Hodgson regime with a last-gasp victory over a now-managerless Leicester City on Saturday.
Palace need a reliable centre-forward if they are to make the next step. Only four Premier League teams have fewer than their 24 goals.
Retegui’s agent, Corriere dello Sport say, will soon arrive in London ahead of talks with a number of clubs. It is not yet certain how much Tigres will demand for a ‘world-class’ centre-forward. Though Retegui’s international emergence in Euro 2024 qualifying should see his price-tag rise exponentially.
‘He knows how to score’
“Retegui knows how to put the ball in the net,” Mancini says. “And that is not nothing.”
“That is what we saw when we were scouting him. He still needs time. He must get to know European football. But he knows how to score, and that is an important quality.
“He tried, that is already good. Having Retegui in Serie A would make him stronger, help him learn the language and consequently communicate better with his teammates on the field.”
The future? Today, his mind is totally on Tigre and the Azzurri,” adds Carlos Retegui, the striker’s father (Sport Italia)
“He must remain calm and keep his feet on the ground. He must think of nothing but learning and improving. I am very happy and proud that Mateo is part of the Italian national team. And I am very grateful to (Italy manager) Roberto Mancini, his staff and all his teammates who welcomed him in an excellent way.
“It is an honour to have someone like Mancini train him. And Mateo will be forever grateful to him for the trust he has placed in him.”
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