Arsenal have been given a huge boost in their transfer pursuit of Andrea Belotti as his current club, Torino has agreed to drop their asking price for the Italian forward. The 25-year-old’s scintillating form for last season has faded in recent times.
His impressive goal tally of 28 from 38 appearances has been reduced to just 9 this season. Some of the problems have stemmed from the knee injury he suffered earlier in the campaign but even after a run of games under his belt, Belotti has struggled to replicate his past self.
The 24-year-old first announced himself as Italy’s great attacking hope in the first few months of 2016/17 season. Following a fallow period in which Mario Balotelli has failed to live up to his early hype, Belotti emerged to be the Italian talisman who could one day lead his country to major honours.
Inevitably, his form at club level led to international recognition. Giampiero Ventura, the former Italy boss was the one to hand him his maiden national team call-up, and it was an opportunity for him to prove his mettle. Having earned his first competitive cap in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Macedonia, the young striker has notched 4 goals in 15 appearances for the Azzurri so far in his career.
Belotti’s game shouts physicality and mental persistence. He is not necessarily the fastest or the most skilful with the ball but give him an opportunity to score and he will. In an October interview, he spoke of the work ethic imbued within him from a young age.
Belotti told La Gazzetta Dello Sport, “My father told me: ‘If you don’t leave the pitch absolutely exhausted, it means you haven’t given it your all.’ I like to work hard.”
These are all prime qualities which any manager would like to build upon including Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.
Wenger bolstered the club ranks in the January window through the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £60m. The French mastermind also has Alexandre Lacazette as another option who arrived last summer for £52m. With Danny Welbeck as a rotational option, the striker role is well covered and Belotti might just be a surplus to requirements until and unless someone makes an exit.
Belotti is not exactly versatile enough to appear on the wings. His talents are better suited for a more central role with his teammates supplying him the ball inside or around the penalty box.
Paying £88m for a rotational player is just plain unnecessary, even for a cash stacked side like Arsenal.
