Giacomo Raspadori made his competitive debut for Italy against Wales at Euro 2020
Roberto Mancini's 26-man Euro 2020 squad was announced on a bizarre live TV broadcast at the beginning of June. But it was Giacomo Raspadori's surprise inclusion that caused most discussion.
This uncapped forward was apparently on a weekly wage of approximately 2,000, which would be dwarfed if he were to compete with his new team-mates. He was part of a squad that aims to win the trophy.
He was not able to make the Euros victory campaign and made a single substitute appearance against Wales.
Mancini's vision now seems more clear. Mancini believes Raspadori will be Italy's next centre forward. He is a former Manchester City manager who has the confidence to assume a position that was a problem for the Azzurri.
Mancini is focused on this week's Nations League semifinal against Spain in the immediate term, but Raspadori will be a key player for next year's World Cup.
Only one time did Raspadori make an appearance at the Euros
Although Raspadori's surprise inclusion during the summer was unexpected, his elevation into the senior squad wasn't completely unplanned.
Last season, he scored six goals in 27 Sassuolo games. His double against AC Milan at San Siro on April in April threatened to derail Rossoneri’s return to Champions League.
He was 21 when he received the captain's armband for a match against Roma. This was a significant moment that cemented his status as a player who joined the club at eight years old and made it clear that Sassuolo would do everything possible to keep him.
They made nearly all their most valuable assets available for purchase during the summer. Francesco Caputo and Manuel Locatelli moved to Sampdoria and Juju respectively. Domenico Berardi was also available, but they decided to stay.
One player was going nowhere. Giovanni Carnevali, the club's chief executive, stated that Giacomo would not leave Sassuolo. This was in addition to what he said during the previous transfer window.
Raspadori, seen as captaining Sassuolo has been linked to Inter, the team that he supports.
Raspadori is a passionate Inter Milan fan. He is a quiet young man, who combines his passion for scaring Serie A defenders and studying sports science at University. He is able to shoot with both feet and can link play with his teammates.
He recently stated that he was a mixture of Gianluca Viola and Mancini about himself and his play style. "I'm similar to Sergio Aguero but Samuel Eto'o is the striker that I love most."
Many compared Rossi's call-up for the 1982 World Cup to Paolo Rossi. Rossi's call-up was also unexpected, but for a different reason. He had just returned from a three year ban for his involvement with the Totonero scandal.
It is a story that will be remembered forever. Rossi was the top scorer in the tournament.
Raspadori's summer impact was not like that, but there is hope that the Qatar World Cup will be his stage.
Ciro Immobile's position is most at risk from his emergence. Lazio's striker, who suffered an injury in the club's Europa League last game, will not be able to compete in the Nations League finals. Few doubts will surround the San Siro semifinal against Spain on 6 October.
The Azzurri were alongside their rivals this week the most prolific with 13 goals. However, Immobile scored two goals and Andrea Belotti one.
Although the manager has supported his top-scorers, who each have eight goals since he took over, Mancini also stated that there is no hierarchy.
Mancini took Raspadori with him to the Euros in order to help him integrate and prepare for the future tasks and to initiate the succession process.
He had only experienced one pre-tournament friendly, and the 15 minutes in Rome against Wales were his first taste of elite international soccer.
It was amazing how confident he looked, and this has continued with the opportunities he has been offered since the Euros.
He was a standout performer at last month's internationals.
Raspadori recently stated, "I want to keep dreaming while doing the things I love most."
Mancini is a pragmatic person and has decided, after looking at the best of Italian football, to invest in Raspadori.
Are Immobile and Belotti the future? Or could Sassuolo's team-mate Gianluca Scaacca or Juventus’ Moise Kean, despite a brief spell at Everton, quickly become a true number nine? Can there be a 'false 9' to help build Italy's offensive team around?
Mancini believes that a player who he feels has all the qualities he needs is a likely answer to all of those questions.
Raspadori recently stated that he has the "skills and the body" of a false nine but also the characteristics of a true one.
Roberto de Zerbi (his former Sassuolo manager) said that Giacomo was a mix of a number 9 and 10, as he links up play well.
He is expected to have the opportunity to prove that he can be Italy's main man this week.
