Andrea Belotti Link To Arsenal and Chelsea Moves
After a superb 2016, in which he established himself as a lethal scorer
and Italian international under former club boss Giampiero Ventura,
Andrea Belotti deservedly holds a reputation as one of European
football's most sought-after strikers. Thriving alongside Adem Ljajic
and former Tottenham Hotspur winger Iago Falque in Sinisa Mihajlovic's
attacking 4-3-3 system, the 23-year-old has notched 16 times already in
just 21 appearances across all competitions this term and unsurprisingly
attracted attention from a host of potential high-profile suitors
including Arsenal and Manchester United.
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Initially rejected by Atalanta as a youngster, he rose admirably from humble third-tier beginnings at AlbinoLeffe. Later taking a wage cut and rejecting moves to top-flight clubs such as Sampdoria and Verona in order to prove his worth in the second division with Palermo, Belotti joined Torino on a permanent basis back in August 2015 and has since gone from strength to strength.
With Gorlago native Belotti seemingly having been annointed as flavour of the month during the latest January transfer window, IBTimes UK caught up with Torino expert Peter Bourne to get the lowdown on a player – known as 'Il Gallo' or 'The Rooster' due to his slightly bizarre and now trademark goal celebration – who has taken to terrorising Serie A defences on a weekly basis...
Belotti performing his trademark rooster comb celebrationValerio Pennicino/Getty Images
"His physical characteristics are those of a classic no 9," he said of the complete forward. "Belotti is as strong as a bull, holds the ball up well and defenders off with ease. His work-rate has always been impressive.
"Since the beginning of 2016 the quality of his finishing and timing of his runs has really improved. He is extremely resourceful in terms of how he scores his goals; counter-attack, crosses, solo efforts, albeit all generally in the penalty area.
"This season his goals have been distributed neatly between right foot, left foot, head. His main weakness is perhaps his first touch which can be a bit agricultural at times and on occasions his awareness of those around him."
Belotti has evidently taken giant strides in his development over the past year, something that Bourne attributes to the greater sense of responsibility afforded by Fabio Quagliarella's exit and the injuries/eventual departure of Ciro Immobile to Lazio. Could such success be easily transferred to the Premier League?
"Italian players have had a mixed time in England especially strikers. Belotti though should adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League, the pace, the intensity. There is nothing to suggest he wouldn't be a success."
Initially rejected by Atalanta as a youngster, he rose admirably from humble third-tier beginnings at AlbinoLeffe. Later taking a wage cut and rejecting moves to top-flight clubs such as Sampdoria and Verona in order to prove his worth in the second division with Palermo, Belotti joined Torino on a permanent basis back in August 2015 and has since gone from strength to strength.
With Gorlago native Belotti seemingly having been annointed as flavour of the month during the latest January transfer window, IBTimes UK caught up with Torino expert Peter Bourne to get the lowdown on a player – known as 'Il Gallo' or 'The Rooster' due to his slightly bizarre and now trademark goal celebration – who has taken to terrorising Serie A defences on a weekly basis...
Belotti performing his trademark rooster comb celebrationValerio Pennicino/Getty Images"His physical characteristics are those of a classic no 9," he said of the complete forward. "Belotti is as strong as a bull, holds the ball up well and defenders off with ease. His work-rate has always been impressive.
"Since the beginning of 2016 the quality of his finishing and timing of his runs has really improved. He is extremely resourceful in terms of how he scores his goals; counter-attack, crosses, solo efforts, albeit all generally in the penalty area.
"This season his goals have been distributed neatly between right foot, left foot, head. His main weakness is perhaps his first touch which can be a bit agricultural at times and on occasions his awareness of those around him."
Belotti has evidently taken giant strides in his development over the past year, something that Bourne attributes to the greater sense of responsibility afforded by Fabio Quagliarella's exit and the injuries/eventual departure of Ciro Immobile to Lazio. Could such success be easily transferred to the Premier League?
"Italian players have had a mixed time in England especially strikers. Belotti though should adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League, the pace, the intensity. There is nothing to suggest he wouldn't be a success."
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