MALTA – Italy coach Roberto Mancini warned that striker Mateo Retegui “needs time” to learn, despite the Argentina-born striker scoring for a second successive Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday.

The 23-year-old qualifies to play for the defending champions courtesy of his Italian grandfather, but still plays his club football in Argentina, on loan at Tigres from Boca Juniors.

That might not be for long, with Tuttosport reporting that Inter Milan are interested in bringing him to his adopted country.

On Sunday, Retegui looked right at home for Italy as he scored the opening goal in a 2-0 Group C win in Malta. His 15th-minute header followed his debut strike in Thursday’s 2-1 loss at home to England.

“He unlocked the match, he was essential today,” said Mancini.

“But I repeat: he needs time, he still needs to learn more about European football.”

He suggested that more “Oriundi” – overseas players with Italian ancestry – could soon join Retegui in the Italy team.

He said: “Yes, it is a possibility. We have a minimal percentage of Italians who play... in Serie A.

“If you look at other countries, they all do it. Switzerland have 15 out of 20 players who are Oriundi. So do Belgium. France, Germany and England all look to Oriundi.

“Until a few years ago, we had many strong players and didn’t need to do it. The others did, often taking players that we had helped to develop and mature, so now we will adapt and do the same.”

Retegui, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and fullback Giovanni di Lorenzo were the only men to keep their places in the starting line-up after the loss to England.

Matteo Pessina added Italy’s second goal on Sunday from a cross by Emerson Palmieri in the 27th minute, becoming the first Monza player to score for the Azzurri in the process.

“I didn’t know that. Apart from the goal, I am happy with the victory,” he told RAI Sport.

“These games are never easy, as we saw today, the important thing was to win and get the first points on the board.”

Italy came close to increasing their lead in the second half when Gianluca Scamacca produced an overhead kick from a corner, but goalkeeper Henry Bonello came to the rescue with a one-handed reaction save.

“These are matches where you have everything to lose,” said the 58-year-old Mancini.

“We did some good things, some not so good. The important thing was to win.

“We could have scored more, but there you go. These are particular kinds of matches, where it’s difficult to play, you don’t have a lot of space.”

His opposite number Michele Marcolini, meanwhile, said: “My players had the right attitude, tried to be as positive as possible... (but) were lacking in the final pass or shot.

“Italy are Italy, it was like climbing Mount Everest for us. At the end of the day, we had a good performance.” AFP, REUTERS