Gatti's Former Coach: He Would Be Juventus' Best Forward; Spalletti Will Eventually Start Him

According to TuttoJuve, Sergio Galeazzi, who coached Federico Gatti at Verbania, gave an interview discussing his former player's performances. He believes Gatti possesses extremely strong mental qualities and could even perform better than Juventus' current attackers if he were deployed as a forward.

Speaking about Gatti scoring after coming off the bench recently, Galeazzi said: “When you think you have many stars in the squad, the player who eventually solves your problems may be a substitute, and that is normal in football. Federico scoring is not even news anymore. Anyone can produce a moment of brilliance occasionally, but he always proves that when the team is struggling, he will step up. He fears nothing, he comes on to score, and he eventually did it.”

Regarding whether coach Luciano Spalletti had unexpectedly found a new forward option, Galeazzi said: “Spalletti did not seem to have much faith in him, and this time he only sent him on because there were not many alternatives. But Spalletti will change his opinion. The substitution worked, but the credit belongs to Gatti. I believe Federico should no longer be just one of the team's final options. He deserves to start, and he will eventually become a starter.”

Gatti played as a forward early in his career, and now his opportunities as a centre-back have been reduced due to competition with Lucumí and Bremer. On whether he could truly switch to the attacking line, Galeazzi said: “He could indeed stand out in another position. Even if you put him in goal, I guarantee he would gradually become good on the goal line as well.”

“If Federico played as a forward, what he could offer would be more than Kolo Muani and the other players brought in for large transfer fees. Of course, we are talking about a top club aiming to win the league title, not a Serie C team, so doing this would somewhat resemble a choice made out of desperation and carries risks. But my opinion remains the same: if he plays as a striker, he would be better than anyone else at Juventus.”

Galeazzi was also pleased that Gatti did not leave Juventus in the previous transfer window. Gatti had previously had an opportunity to join Porto.

He said: “If they had really sold him, it would have been another mistake by the Juventus management. I would always keep a player like him, especially because he is Italian. He is a true Juventus player and the last person who would give up. If he himself had accepted a transfer, Juventus would have sold him at that time.”

“But who would they buy after selling him? The transfer window is now closed, but even if they had sold him to Napoli at that time, Juventus would probably have found another foreign player who was not as good as Gatti to replace him. Why do that? He gives everything for the team, fights until the end, and is also a very important figure in the dressing room. I truly cannot understand it.”

Discussing Gatti's biggest strengths, Galeazzi stressed: “His mental strength is incredibly powerful. He is good in the air, and his mind is also very strong. Maybe his technical ability is not as outstanding, but mentally he has something that other players do not. He is always the last one to give up, just as he said himself in post-match interviews.”

“It was the same when he was at Verbania. He was always the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. He often trained extra until I had to tell him, ‘Enough, stop training.’ But ultimately, it was because of all that effort that he can become a Juventus player today.”

Galeazzi also recalled Gatti's experiences before becoming famous: “Federico has never changed. He is exactly the same as before, still the humble young man who loves football that I knew. Back then he had to work as a bricklayer in the morning and then hurry to train with us. Now that he has joined Juventus, he still maintains the same level of commitment and never takes a step back.”

“After he scored against Sevilla in the Europa League, he sent me a message saying that goal was dedicated to me. I asked why. He said many people now contact him asking for shirts, tickets or other things, but I had never asked him for anything. He is already a Juventus player, yet he has never become arrogant because of that. I tell this story to further show his simplicity and his strong mentality.”