Italian international’s career is on the up and up.
Southampton new boy Graziano Pelle netted on his Italian national team debut in midweek, leading to the forward’s father to offer glowing praise to the manager who shaped his son’s career according to ESPN.
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Man United boss Louis van Gaal is apparently the manager who helped the 29 year old to fulfill his potential and put him on the path to success.
Van Gaal brought in the then journeyman football to AZ Alkmaar in 2007 and blossomed at Feyenoord before securing a big money move to St Mary’s this summer, and has already shown what he is capable of in the Premier League this season.
“If he’d never met the Dutch guru [Van Gaal], as well as [Ronald] Koeman, maybe my son would now be a carpenter or he’d be sitting with me in my van, selling coffee,” said Roberto Pelle
“He’s now realised his dream, after overcoming the disappointment of not being considered for the World Cup in Brazil. Finally somebody has noticed that there was an Italian who scored 64 goals in Holland.”
Mr Pelle is also effusive in his assessment of new Italian national team coach Antonio Conte;
“It’s going to be good fun with Conte,” added Roberto Pelle. “Graziano has confided in me that he sees a lot of Van Gaal in [Conte].”
Pelle has scored four goals in six Premier League fixtures for Southampton.