The global football landscape continues its seismic shift, with players increasingly drawn to the burgeoning leagues of Saudi Arabia. The latest Italian national team figure contemplating a move east is forward Mateo Retegui. While the financial allure of the Saudi Pro League is undeniable – often described, perhaps without undue hyperbole, as the “opportunity of a lifetime” for players and generations to come – his potential departure from European football sparks familiar questions regarding its impact on national team performance.
In the current Italian setup under new coach Gennaro Gattuso, Retegui is identified as one of the primary options leading the attack. Alongside Moise Kean and Gianluca Scamacca, he forms a trio the coaching staff is looking to rely on. Kean, in particular, has shown remarkable form recently, finishing as Serie A`s second-highest scorer and delivering standout performances for the Azzurri. Scamacca, though recently sidelined by injury, possesses the physical and technical attributes of a top-tier forward. Retegui himself, despite a relatively short spell in Serie A, impressed with his goal-scoring ability and showcased tactical flexibility that fit into previous national team plans. Lucca and Pio Esposito are also on the radar, but the core hinges significantly on these three.
The Saudi Question: Maintaining Form in the Desert
The move to Saudi Arabia naturally invites comparisons, perhaps unfairly, to a “golden retirement.” While true for some veteran players, the league is rapidly evolving. Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, has maintained an impressive international goal-scoring record for Portugal since his move in early 2023, although one might argue he operates on a different plane of existence entirely – an “alien,” as the original article puts it, not bound by mere mortal constraints like league quality or travel fatigue.
For players like Retegui, or even Kean who is reportedly also tempted by offers from the region, the challenge lies in maintaining the intensity, tactical discipline, and physical readiness required for top-level international football. The Saudi league, while improving and featuring many European and South American coaches, is still viewed by some as inconsistent. According to analysis by the Italian staff, roughly half of its matches offer a technical level and intensity comparable to European leagues, but consistency across the board remains a point of consideration.
Gattuso`s Pragmatic Approach
Coach Gattuso, known for his fierce intensity as a player and a developing pragmatism as a manager, seems to acknowledge the reality of modern football economics. The national team staff is aware that the tide of talent moving towards lucrative opportunities is not reversing. Instead of lamenting the loss of players from Serie A or other traditional European powerhouses, the focus is on adapting. Gattuso is reportedly studying the Saudi league closely and is prepared to continue calling up players based there if they maintain the required level of performance and fitness.
Retegui`s commitment to the Italian national team, even choosing it over Argentina where he was a league top scorer, is highlighted as a positive factor. His ambition to play in major tournaments like the World Cup remains strong. However, practicalities like travel and ensuring rigorous training standards while far from the familiar infrastructure of European football will require dedication and discipline from the player himself. Ronaldo, the “computer,” might handle this effortlessly, but for others, it`s a conscious effort.
The Changing Landscape
The transfer of players like Retegui and the temptation felt by others like Kean underscores a significant shift. It`s not just aging superstars, but players in or entering their prime who are considering these moves. While some national teams, like Portugal with Ruben Neves or Turkey with Merih Demiral, continue to select players based in Saudi Arabia, the impact on form and readiness is a genuine concern. The situation differs player by player; the article notes that while Milinkovic-Savic moved there, his absence from the Serbian squad is perhaps more impactful for them than Retegui`s potential move is for Italy, implying Retegui is, perhaps, more replaceable.
This trend poses a challenge not just for Italy`s immediate striking options but for the competitive balance of European leagues and the feeder system for national teams. Clubs needing strikers, such as Juventus or Milan, might find potential targets heading east for sums even traditional European giants struggle to match, as implicitly noted by the contrast with Osimhen`s valuation or the reluctance to activate Kean`s clause.
The future of national teams, heavily reliant on players based in diverse leagues globally, is now inextricably linked to the financial powerhouses emerging outside of Europe`s traditional strongholds. Gattuso and the Azzurri face the task of navigating this new reality, hoping that the lure of international football and a player`s professional dedication can counteract the potential drawbacks of playing in a less traditionally competitive environment. The future, as the article wryly notes, is here, and we`ve only truly realised it now that it`s already arrived.
Wesley Dunham 
Gilbert Pendleton