The birthplace of Catenaccio – the most defensive of all football approaches – is going through a revitalizing resurrection.
Once again a flaming competition currently stealing plenty of attention from the corporate based football foundations in financially more lucrative surroundings such as the Premier League and La Liga, Serie A is throwing wild punches to push its way back to the top.
A competition loved and adored by entire continent back in the 90s is back on the football map and, with it, a string of budding talents alongside a couple of those forgotten players trying to redeem themselves.
Forgotten Man with a Shot at Redemption
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile definitely fits the bill as one of Italy’s forgotten sons flying bravely on the new wave, fully embracing the chance thrown in his way, aware it might be the last one he gets.
Naples-born forward is once again playing with passion and hunger that got Ciro Ferrara to recommend him to Serie A giants Juventus back in 2009 after seeing him throw rivals to dirt as a cadet in lowly youth sides in his hometown.
The only difference being this time, Immobile is no longer a hot-tempered boy struggling to adapt to new surroundings and fit in systems that are not up to his own liking.
Ciro took his time to flourish. A late bloomer wasted a couple of loans – to Sienna and Grosseto – to kill any chance of playing for Juventus again. Third and the final loan to Pescara proved to be a lifeline he was anxiously waiting for.
Italy is known as a cruel place for misfits and players unable to challenge their own beliefs and talents in order to make into these challenging surroundings but it would appear that fortune has always been Immobile’s ally.
Fortune is Earned
Not that the author of this article has a remote desire to devalue Ciro’s talents and efforts – quite the contrary. Luck loves the brave and Ciro Immobile definitely is a brave man. Relentless in his desire he was fortunate enough to be met with a tough tactician Zdenek Zeman a cigar-smoking coach known for his exciting, attack oriented footballing style.
A 4-3-3 enthusiast who always play for a goal more is a firm advocate of beautiful football and that’s exactly how his style at Pescara at the time can be described.
Surrounded with Lorenzo Insigne and magical wonderkid Marco Verratti, Ciro Immobile was fed on balls he converted in impressive 28 goals during 37 league outings to help Pescara win Serie B title.
Transition from the second to first tier of Italian football once again proved to be tough for Ciro Immobile who failed to impress at Genoa and spent a year in waste before a move to Torino, where 22 goals in 33 appearances once again got him back on the map.
Immobile’s football story is a story of ups and down – perhaps more of the latter – which failed attempts to present himself as a worthy replacement of Robert Lewandowski at Borussia Dortmund and a shot at redemption with Sevilla prove a big point for.
Limited Versatility
Italy’s fallen son is a primarily a victim of his own inability to adopt and he should be praised for his unacceptance to blame anything else than his own work and performance rate for it.
Although a striker by nature, Ciro Immobile boasts a diverse skillset which will make him a limited influence when isolated upfront in a classic No.9 position. More of a roamer and a poacher, Immobile will use his quick pace to spread the play with his offensive movement and create room for his teammates rather than only exploit the chances presented for him.
Cirom Immobile’s willingness to chase down the ball and press opponents when not in possessions are the two traits that recommended him to Simone Inzaghi – a young tactician who was given a green light to create something beautiful at Lazio – the fallen giants of the Italian football.
With nothing to lose and plenty to gain, Inzaghi set his sights on forming a squad capable of playing good football within a 3-5-2 formation.
Marco Parolo and his Serbian partner in midfield Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were assigned with doing the more difficult part in the centre of the park whereas Inzaghi needed a partner for Keita Balde, the exciting talent now plying his trade at AS Monaco.
A Breath of Fresh Air
What he got in Immobile was more than he bargained for.
Ultimately, Inzaghi got rewarded for bravery and willingness to risk with a player who was slowly earning the ‘damaged goods’ moniker. Immobile’s freedom of movement in Inzaghi’s fluid formation allowed him to exploit spaces. His eye for goals made most of any chance he got himself into to finish the season with impressive 23 goals on his tally.
Heading into the new season the fans were afraid Immobile’s form was going to be short-lived and no one could have blamed them with his unimpressive and utterly inconsistent records.
But Immobile’s regained confidence made him one of Italy’s – and Europe’s for that matter – most lethal strikers.
The total of 13 goals in 10 Serie A matches make him the continent’s top scorer across the top five leagues – alongside Radamel Falcao.
With a record which betters that of Leo Messi, Immobile stands at 15/8 betting odds to finish the season as Serie A top goal scorer and it would appear nothing could stop him.
Hand in hand with the resurgence of the Italian football, Ciro Immobile is on a mission to prove the world he is not done with yet. Same as Italy.
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